Opioid use during the perinatal periods can negatively affect people and their babies. Pregnant people may use opioids as prescribed, may misuse prescription opioids, or may use illicit opioids such as heroin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention​. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress.

Opioid use during pregnancy can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in some newborns. NAS is a group of conditions that can occur when newborns withdraw from certain substances, including opioids, that they were exposed to before birth. Withdrawal among newborns during the first 28 days of life due to long-term exposure to opioids before birth is called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

OUD and NAS are both treatable conditions, and can be improved by linkages to care. Facilitating linkages to care at different stages of the pregnancy, can increase support for the pregnant person as their needs change during and after pregnancy. Linkages to care and increased care coordination help improve maternal and infant health outcomes.​​