WIC Works Resource System
U.S. Department of Agriculture
WIC’s substance abuse prevention and referral activities are intended to increase participants’ access to information about the dangers of substance use during pregnancy and postpartum, and while breastfeeding due to potential effects of these substances on both the mother and the child. For women who take opioid pain medications, there are a number of possible risks during pregnancy for the unborn baby.
CDC's Pregnancy and Opioid Pain Medications fact sheet outlines such risks and provides advice for women who just found out they are pregnant and for breastfeeding women.
CDC offers several opioid-related resources geared for the general audience, including their Opioid Overdose- Information for Patients page where WIC staff and participants can learn more about opioids, overdose prevention, and how patients can work with their doctor on a safe and effective pain management treatment plan, including:
- A handout describing non-opioid treatments for chronic pain
- Frequently asked questions patients can review with their health care provider regarding pain management and opioid use
- A page highlighting what a patient should expect from opioid therapy
WIC staff may find it helpful to view and share with their participants some of the videos that are part of CDC's Rx Awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of opioid misuse and addiction. More information and resources on opioid and other medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding can be found:
- on CDC's Treating for Two: Medicine and Pregnancy website
- in the WIC Substance Use Prevention Guide
- in the National Library of Medicine's LactMed database
- and by searching "substance" on the WIC Works Resource System
