What advantages does Methadone Maintenance Treatment offer?
Opioid drug use can cause serious complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage or premature delivery. Medical experts have recommended methadone maintenance for opioid-dependent pregnant women. Research has clearly shown that methadone maintenance is safe for pregnant women and offers a much greater chance for a healthy baby. Methadone maintenance: • Helps the mother escape from a drug-seeking lifestyle. • Reduces the risks of contracting HIV, hepatitis and other infections. • Prevents erratic blood levels of drugs that put the unborn baby through dangerous withdrawal. • Improves nutrition, leading to a healthier weight and condition of the newborn. • Reduces medical complications both before and during childbirth, allowing for a healthier newborn. How does Methadone affect the baby? At birth, the infant may have a slightly lower than average birth weight than a drug-free newborn. This is only temporary and can usually be avoided if the pregnant woman receives proper care befo
