Prenatal Action for Taking Healthy Steps (PATHS) Toolkit

The PATHS toolkit offers evidence-based educational resources about the use of medication to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) during and after pregnancy.

Culturally and linguistically appropriate versions are also available for American Indians & Alaska Natives and Spanish speakers (coming soon).

Resources include videos, discussion guides, fact sheets, flyers, posters, and social media messaging. Links on this page all open in a separate tab. Learn more about how these materials were developed.

In the Toolkit

PATHS Introductory Video

Start discussions about opioid use disorder (OUD) and pregnancy with this video featuring Erika, a mother in recovery with OUD, who shares her personal journey of managing OUD during pregnancy with medication. Erika highlights the importance of staying in treatment, debunks myths about medication treatment for OUD, and advocates for the rights of pregnant people with OUD to receive appropriate medical care without discrimination. She shares a message of hope that a healthy pregnancy with OUD is possible with education and supportive health care.

Download video transcript

Printable Resource Downloads


 
Screenshot of the 3 flyers spread in a fan, the top one features a pregnant woman and the title "Will my baby experience withdrawal?"

Flyers

Share these printable flyers with anyone who has questions about using medications for opioid use disorder in pregnancy or post to bulletin boards, treatment rooms–even restrooms. They answer common questions about opioid use disorder (OUD) and pregnancy in plain language.

  • Can Babies Be Born Addicted?
  • Will My Baby Experience Withdrawal?
  • Can I Take Buprenorphine or Methadone (MOUD) While Pregnant?
Download the flyers

 
Additional Versions

 
Screenshot of the cover of the discussion guide, titled "Opioid use disorder and pregnancy: Following PATHS for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Discussion guide. Steps to set you and your baby on the path to success.

Discussion Guide

Help people with opioid use disorder navigate pregnancy with valuable information and credible resources created for recovery discussions.

This printable guide is formatted for use with groups, but is also useful when discussing opioid use disorder in pregnancy with individuals. The guide helps you plan and initiate discussions with people with opioid use disorder and their families about:

  • Stigma and misconceptions about opioid use disorder treatment during pregnancy
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment
  • MOUD treatment during pregnancy
  • Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)
  • Breastfeeding during MOUD treatment
  • Assessing and advocating for person-centered health care
  • Federal and state resources available for pregnant people with OUD
Download discussion guide

 
Additional Versions

 
Screenshot of the poster with the heading Know your right to treatment!

Poster

Know Your Right to Treatment
Help pregnant people with opioid use disorder (OUD) understand their right to treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how to report a potential ADA violation.

Download poster

 
Additional Versions

 
Screenshot of the fact sheet, titled Treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy

Factsheet

Treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) During Pregnancy

Packed with information, this printable resource discusses the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy, focusing on recovery, preparing for the baby’s arrival, and rights to treatment for OUD.

Download factsheet

 
Additional Versions

Social Media Downloads – Facebook

To download images, right-click on the individual image and select save. Download the headline document for suggested messages to use with each image.

Download headline document
Download social media best practices

Image 1 features a mother standing next to her child who is eating at a table. The mother is pointing to a laptop screen as the child looks at it. The text reads "Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) help you focus on what's important: You and your baby."
Facebook: Headline image 1
Image 2 features a pregnant woman sitting on a couch, holding her belly and smiling. Text reads: Recovery checklist: See my health care provider, go to support meetings, take my medication for OUD
Facebook: Headline image 2
Image 3 features a a young pregnant woman talking to an older woman. They are drinking coffee and smiling. The text reads "Strengthen your family by supporting medication treatment for opioid use disorder."
Facebook: Headline image 3
Image 4 features a Black pregnant woman look at the camera and smiling. She is outside near a swimming pool and a man is sitting behind her smiling as though talking to someone out of frame. Text reads "Know your rights! Medication treatment for opioid use disorder."
Facebook: Headline image 4
Image 5 features a young mother with her eyes closed holding a sleeping infant on her chest. Text reads Yes! You can breastfeed during treatment for opioid use disorder!
Facebook: Headline image 5
Additional Versions

Social Media Downloads – Instagram

To download images, right-click on the individual image and select save. Download the headline document for suggested messages to use with each image.

Download headline document
Download social media best practices

Image 1 features a mother standing next to her child who is eating at a table. The mother is pointing to a laptop screen as the child looks at it. The text reads "Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) help you focus on what's important: You and your baby."
Instagram: Headline image 1
Image 2 features a pregnant woman sitting on a couch, holding her belly and smiling. Text reads: Recovery checklist: See my health care provider, go to support meetings, take my medication for OUD
Instagram: Headline image 2
Image 3 features a a young pregnant woman talking to an older woman. They are drinking coffee and smiling. The text reads "Strengthen your family by supporting medication treatment for opioid use disorder."
Instagram: Headline image 3
Image 4 features a Black pregnant woman look at the camera and smiling. She is outside near a swimming pool and a man is sitting behind her smiling as though talking to someone out of frame. Text reads "Know your rights! Medication treatment for opioid use disorder."
Instagram: Headline image 4
Image 5 features a young mother with her eyes closed holding a sleeping infant on her chest. Text reads Yes! You can breastfeed during treatment for opioid use disorder!
Instagram: Headline image 5
Additional Versions

Reels – Facebook & Instagram

Click to view each video on YouTube. YouTube links can be shared on Facebook or Instagram, or you can use a YouTube downloader to save the MP4 video files and upload those directly to each platform. Click the button below to find instructions for both approaches.

Download video sharing instructions

1: MOUD and the ADA (1:50)


Download Reel 1 transcript

2: MOUD and Pregnancy (1:45)


Download Reel 2 transcript

3: Breastfeeding with MOUD (1:17)


Download Reel 3 transcript

Additional Resources

This resource was funded in part with federal funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Center for the Clinical Trials Network Dissemination Initiative (contract #75N95020C00028RFP). The content was developed by experts and researchers and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. This information should not be considered a substitute for legal counsel or individualized patient care and treatment decisions.