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Portland Public Health Division | 389 Congress Street | Portland, Maine 04101 | (207) 874-8784

pwt newsletter

The Portland Women's Taskforce has archived all of its newsletters at the link below.

If you would like to sign up to receive our newsletter in your email inbox, please enter your email address into the box below.

portland women’s taskforce

The Portland Women’s Task Force has been able to create a bridge between agencies and has had several success stories to date.  It is our goal to provide women with better access to services and support and it is because of that goal that we continue to come together to share ideas, concerns and seek help for those we serve.

Our members fully understand the stigma that is attached to addiction and through education hopes to lessen that stigma. The Portland Women's Task Force identified a great need to educate women, families, providers, and the community at-large about the benefits of prescribing methadone (or Subutex) for opiate-addicted women who are pregnant.  It has been proven to be a safer alternative for the mother and for the baby she is carrying.  The following research supports our project:

• “Treatment for other opiates (prescription) continues to climb among 18-25 year olds. Although this is true for both genders, it is particularly significant for young women. Between 2000 and 2006, the number of female clients for this age group admitted for prescription opiates has increased nearly 6 fold and now exceeds alcohol admissions.” (Maine Office of Substance Abuse Annual Report, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2009 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/pubs/osa/2007/annual2006.pdf)


• A March of Dimes PeriStats report states that, “Between 1995 and 2005, the rate of infants born preterm in Maine increased more than 17%” and “Although infants born to mothers taking methadone…have withdrawal symptoms, they can be safely treated in the nursery and generally do better than babies born to women who continue to use heroin” (March of Dimes, Retrieved March 20, 2009 http://www.marchofdimes.com).
  
• According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, “For pregnant heroin abusers, methadone maintenance combined with prenatal care and a comprehensive drug treatment program can improve many of the detrimental maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with untreated heroin abuse” (NIDA InfoFacts: Heroin, Retrieved March 20, 2009 http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html).

Through our partnerships, we’ve learned that hospital and addiction treatment staff report an increase in the number of pregnant women with addictions entering prenatal care at 6 months gestation or later and that untreated addiction and illicit drug use (particularly heroin and other opioids) during pregnancy can lead to preterm births, stillbirth, infant withdrawal symptoms, and the potential for lifelong disabilities.  Based on feedback from our partners and the mothers they serve, our campaign will highlight research that supports medication assisted treatment (MAT) and will highlight local treatment resources for women and their babies in our area. 

If you would like training information on this or other addiction/substance abuse prevention topics, please contact the Portland Public Health Division’s Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator, Ronni Katz at rmk@portlandmaine.gov or (207) 756-8116.