Addressing the Underdiagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder During and After Pregnancy

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains significantly undertreated among pregnant women and new mothers, posing substantial risks to both parents and infants. Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, including pharmacotherapy and counseling, their utilization during pregnancy is surprisingly low. This gap is partly due to the lack of clear clinical guidelines, limited data on the safety of AUD medications during pregnancy, and prevalent stigma surrounding substance use in pregnant populations.

Recent research analyzing a comprehensive national medical claims database highlighted troubling trends in treatment patterns. The study compared treatment rates between pregnant women and non-pregnant peers, finding that the proportion receiving alcohol-related medication dropped sharply during pregnancy, with only 0.3% of pregnant women on such treatments by the third trimester, compared to 8% of non-pregnant women. After childbirth, treatment rates increased slightly but remained low.

The findings suggest that pregnancy is not necessarily a window of opportunity for engaging women in AUD treatment, as often assumed, but may instead be associated with treatment discontinuation. These gaps in care during pregnancy and postpartum emphasize the urgent need for improved treatment strategies, better guidelines, and reduced stigma to protect entire families from the dangerous consequences of untreated AUD.

For further details, refer to the study published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). Source