Introduction: Substance use during pregnancy presents critical risks to both maternal and fetal health. Addressing addiction in pregnant women requires a multidisciplinary and evidence-based approach. Purpose: This review aims to explore treatment modalities for substance use disorders in pregnant women, with emphasis on clinical efficacy, regional programs, and best practices in Greece and Europe. Methods: We conducted a literature review from PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar using keywords such as “pregnancy,” “addiction,” “substance use disorder,” “methadone,” and “treatment” within the time frame 2000–2025. Fifty-two studies were included based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Methadone reduced illicit opioid use by up to 60% but increased neonatal abstinence syndrome by 30%. Buprenorphine showed fewer neonatal complications compared to methadone. Multidisciplinary programs improved maternal retention in care by 40%. Major barriers included social stigma, limited accessibility, and lack of integrated services. Greek-specific data highlighted gaps in coordination and underfunded regional initiatives. Conclusions: Effective management of addiction in pregnancy necessitates integrated care models, updated clinical protocols, and targeted public health policies. Investment in prevention, staff training, and postnatal follow-up is crucial.
Stathakopoulou et al. (Fri,) studied this question.