Home Induction of Buprenorphine for Pregnant Women

Buprenorphine treatment of pregnant women with opioid use disorder is safe and effective, yet relatively few women have the opportunity to use it. Investigators report their experience offering in-clinic versus at-home induction with buprenorphine in a clinic specifically designed for pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Of 63 patients, 55 elected home induction and 8 observed outpatient induction. The median age was 29, most did not have stable housing, and most used heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pills.

At the 1-week follow-up visit, which was attended by most women, more than half had buprenorphine metabolites in the urine and about half also had evidence of continued opioid use. During the 3 months of follow-up, in the home-induct…