Prenatal Action for Taking Healthy Steps (PATHS) Toolkit – Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native Communities

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

Resources include videos, discussion guides, fact sheets, flyers, posters, and social media messaging. Links on this page all open in a separate tab.

This page features the materials from the toolkit that have been culturally tailored for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Learn more about how these materials were developed: clinician version | non-clinician version.

For other materials from this toolkit, in standard English and Spanish (coming soon!), return to the main PATHS Toolkit page.

In the Toolkit

PATHS Introductory Video

Note: This video is the same for both the Standard English and AIAN versions of the toolkit. 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 flyer #1 showing a pregnant indigenous woman in a field of tall brown grass holding her round belly and looking to the left, wind blowing through her hair.

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 AIAN flyers
Screenshot of the cover of the AIAN discussion guide, titled "Opioid use disorder and pregnancy: Following PATHS for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Discussion guide. Caring for the Well-Being of Our Children is the Traditional Way."

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 AIAN Discussion Guide
Screenshot of the AIAN 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 AIAN poster

Screenshot of the AIAN 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 AIAN factsheet

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 pregnant indigenous woman with an indigenous man standing behind her. She is holding his hand against her belly and they are smiling. Text reads "Recovery checklist: Seek cultural or spiritual supports, see my health care provider, take my medication for OUD"

Facebook: Headline image 1

Images 2 features a pregnant indigenous woman kneeling on a blanket in the middle of a field of tall hay. Her shirt is unbuttoned to expose her belly, which she is holding as she looks to one side and the wind blows through her hair. Text reads, "Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) help you focus on what's important: You and your baby."

Facebook: Headline image 2

Image 3 features two indigenous women, one younger and one older. Only their heads and upper torsos are visible. They are standing close to each other looking down at something and smiling warmly. Text reads "Strengthen your family by supporting medication treatment for opioid use disorder."

Facebook: Headline image 3

Image 4 features an indigenous woman with long hair sitting outside with her legs crossed. A baby is sitting on her lap looking down. Text reads, "Know your rights! Medication treatment for opioid use disorder"

Facebook: Headline image 4

Image 5 features a young indigenous woman with long hair standing and lovingly holding a sleeping infant against her chest. Her head is lowered and her eyes are also closed. Text reads "Yes! You can breastfeed during treatment for opioid use disorder"

Facebook: Headline image 5

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 pregnant indigenous woman with an indigenous man standing behind her. She is holding his hand against her belly and they are smiling. Text reads "Recovery checklist: Seek cultural or spiritual supports, see my health care provider, take my medication for OUD"

Instagram: Headline image 1

Images 2 features a pregnant indigenous woman kneeling on a blanket in the middle of a field of tall hay. Her shirt is unbuttoned to expose her belly, which she is holding as she looks to one side and the wind blows through her hair. Text reads, "Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) help you focus on what's important: You and your baby."

Instagram: Headline image 2

Image 3 features two indigenous women, one younger and one older. Only their heads and upper torsos are visible. They are standing close to each other looking down at something and smiling warmly. Text reads "Strengthen your family by supporting medication treatment for opioid use disorder."

Instagram: Headline image 3

Image 4 features an indigenous woman with long hair sitting outside with her legs crossed. A baby is sitting on her lap looking down. Text reads, "Know your rights! Medication treatment for opioid use disorder"

Instagram: Headline image 4

Image 5 features a young indigenous woman with long hair standing and lovingly holding a sleeping infant against her chest. Her head is lowered and her eyes are also closed. Text reads "Yes! You can breastfeed during treatment for opioid use disorder"

Instagram: Headline image 5

Reels – Facebook and Instagram

Note: These videos is the same for the AIAN and Standard English versions of the toolkit. 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.