Recirculated report prompts conversation about medication given during birth
Social media users also disapproved of harm reduction tips for cold weather.
Social media users also disapproved of harm reduction tips for cold weather.
A nonprofit newsroom recently reshared a December 2024 report about pregnant people who are given routine pain medication during labor and delivery and later lose custody of their children due to positive drug tests. Some commenters wondered if giving fentanyl during labor is safe. Plus, after an organization shared information about safer drug use in cold weather, commenters expressed stigmatizing attitudes toward harm reduction.
In response, communicators may explain why some pain medications are safely given during birth and debunk persistent myths about harm reduction.
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What’s trending nationally in conversations about substance use
On November 25, the Marshall Project, a nonprofit newsroom, reshared a December 2024 report explaining that some pregnant people who are given medication to reduce anxiety and pain during labor and delivery—including benzodiazepines, fentanyl, and morphine—are later reported to their local children’s services agency for having positive drug tests, sometimes losing custody of their children. The Facebook post resharing the report garnered approximately 476,000 views, 6,200 reactions, 4,700 shares, and 1,200 comments as of December 3. Commenters shared similar experiences. Some also expressed surprise that fentanyl is commonly included in epidurals and questioned if it’s safe for pregnant people and their babies.
On November 29, the harm reduction organization NEXT Distro shared a Facebook post with information about safer drug use in cold weather, including reminders that cold temperatures can make it more difficult to recognize overdose symptoms and that naloxone should be kept close to the body to prevent it from freezing. Several commenters suggested “just don’t do drugs” and reprimanded the organization for “normalizing” drug use. Responding commenters explained how harm reduction tools help prevent overdose deaths so that people who use drugs can get help when they’re ready.
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Recommendations for public health professionals
The Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about substance use.
Given concerns about medication given during birth, communicators may outline the types of medications that are used to assist with labor and delivery, including for pain and anxiety. Messaging may emphasize that medications used to manage pain during birth are safe for pregnant people and their babies and do not have long-term effects. Messaging may also note that fentanyl given during medical procedures is not the same as illicit fentanyl and the dosage is well-controlled. Communicators may also want to share alternative ways to ease labor pains and tips for self-advocacy during labor.
Stigmatizing comments frequently emerge in online discussions about harm reduction. In response, communicators may explain that harm reduction programs offer tools that have been shown to prevent overdose deaths, which allows people to seek treatment when they are ready. Experts attribute the recent decline in overdose deaths to the availability of naloxone, a harm reduction tool that reverses opioid overdoses. Messaging may emphasize that many harm reduction programs offer a wide range of services, including vaccinations and infectious disease testing and treatment, which has been shown to reduce the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C.