The risk of child removal by child protective services among pregnant women in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder

ABSTRACT

For parenting women with substance use disorders, enrolling in medication-assisted treatment often means being involved with child protective services. This study examines the impact of biopsychosocial factors on treatment outcomes for opioid-dependent pregnant women in methadone treatment, linking these outcomes with removal of a child by child protective services. This study evaluates factors associated with a client’s success in treatment, using adherence to treatment as a predictor to assess which factors led to any removal of the child from out-of-home care. Results indicated that biopsychosocial factors were correlated with treatment outcomes, particularly if the mother had a prior removal of a child due to a substantiated child abuse case. This research adds to our understanding of factors related to treatment outcomes for pregnant women and informs treatment delivery models that effectively address the complex needs of this vulnerable population.

KEYWORDS:

• Pregnancy
• social support
• medication-assisted treatment
• opioid use disorder
• child removal
• child protective services

Acknowledgments

The author was supported as a predoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Sciences Training in Drug Abuse Research program sponsored by New York University (NYU) with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (5T32 DA007233). Points of view, opinions, and conclusions in this paper do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Government or NYU.

Disclosure statement

The authors whose names are listed below certify that they have no affiliations with or any involvement with any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria, educational grants, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Author names: Brittany Arthur-Jordan, Tony Tan, Jessica Rice

The author whose name is listed below reports the following details of their affiliation or involvement in an organization or entity with a financial or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. The author maintained employment at the agency in which the research study took place.

Author name: Laura Curran