In Oregon between 2018-2021, the leading cause of pregnancy related death was mental health conditions, which includes substance use disorders (2025 Oregon MMRC Report). Much work is needed to decrease bias, and stigma related to SUD and increase access to wrap around behavioral and physical health care for pregnant and postpartum people with SUD’s and their newborns.

There are a number of efforts underway to decrease the morbidity and mortality related to perinatal SUDs in Oregon:

In 2025, a multidisciplinary workgroup developed an Oregon specific toolkit and planned a quality improvement initiative for hospitals, and their community based behavioral health partners. This toolkit, as well as other tools for specific specialties such as lactation, pediatrics and peer support specialists are available now below. All are encouraged to use these to identify and prioritize opportunities at their sites/ among their teams.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT WORK

• A 4-month Naloxone Sprint runs from February through May 2026. Enrolled teams will either implement or refine existing processes, using the Oregon Perinatal Naloxone Toolkit, to ensure those at risk of overdose are provided with naloxone on discharge from perinatal units.

• A 16 month Perinatal SUD quality improvement initiative will kick off in September 2026 and run through December 2027. More information will be available soon and formal enrollment will open in ~June 2026. Intent to Participate forms are now available for both hospital representatives and community-based behavioral health and treatment partners—these forms will help OPC support foundational work and connect teams with support needed in their communities.

Additional workgroups of the Maternal Health Task Force will be addressing perinatal SUD workforce development and payment reform, and more information will be available soon about this work.