Fewer new moms are dying in Colorado – naloxone might be one reason why

The opioid reversal drug is distributed directly to new moms at many of Colorado’s birthing hospitals.

By: Kaylin Klie, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 26, 2026

Words: 1,037

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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By Kaylin Klie, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

In Colorado, from 2016 to 2020, 33 women who were pregnant or had recently given birth died from accidental overdoses. That’s more than died from traditional obstetric complications like infection, high blood pressure or bleeding combined.

More recent data shows an encouraging turnaround. The number of maternal overdose deaths dropped 60%, from 20 in 2022 to eight in 2023. I think one contributing …

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