Understanding How Persons With Maternal Opioid Use Disorder Experience Public Food Assistance Programs WIC and SNAP

Abstract

Background:

The current opioid epidemic persists in tandem with the food insecurity crisis, especially among pregnant persons and parents with opioid use disorder (OUD). Limited research exists examining the experience of pregnant persons and parents with OUD and their engagement in federal food assistance programs. This understanding is imperative to address service gaps, destigmatize practices, and ensure food assistance programs are culturally relevant and acceptable. Therefore, the aim of this study were (1) to understand food access and nutrition needs among pregnant persons and parents in OUD treatment and (2) to describe challenges and limitations associated with current food assistance benefits among pregnant persons and parents in OUD treatment.

Methods:

This qualitative study conducted at an OUD treatment program utilized focus group discussions to elicit feedback from participants. A total of 24 participants (≥18 years of age, parent, recipient of food assistance program and OUD treatment) participated.

Results:

The average age of participants was 40 years (SD = 7.4), all received outpatient OUD services, and all participants received Medicaid benefits. All but one (95.8%) reported receiving medication for OUD (ie, methadone). A total of 7 major themes were identified from the data including the following: (1) risky behaviors to access food, (2) Breastfeeding Concerns and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), (3) Challenges with end of Emergency Allotments payments, (4) WIC/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Enrollment and Support, (5) The impact of food insecurity on maternal and family health, (6) Complexity of food shopping with limited resources, and (7) Impact of food insecurity on recovery domains.

Conclusions:

Despite 2 long-standing federal programs aimed at increasing nutrition and food security for families with children, families affected by maternal OUD continue to face significant barriers to nutritional equity. This study provided context to the additive challenges that families affected by OUD experience in the face of food insecurity, and how they have important implications for the family’s health.

Keywords

opioid use disorder food insecurity WIC SNAP opioid recovery nutritional inequity stigma maternal substance use

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