Substance use disorder is the leading cause of maternal mortality in Illinois, driving longtime maternal health leader State Senator Cristina Castro to pass a law to proactively address substance use disorders during pregnancy to protect both maternal and infant health.

“Setting up more intervention points along the way for women to seek treatment will help minimize harms and ultimately help get newborns and their mothers the care they need,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “By putting infant and maternal health first, with a strong focus on comprehensive support for the whole family, we can create stronger, healthier communities throughout our state.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the leading cause of pregnancy-related death is substance use disorder, which comprised 32% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 to 2020. To address this, the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee recommended the state implement family recovery plans for pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorders.

Implementing the recommendation, the new law creates a task force charged with developing a model family recovery plan for helping infants exposed to substances during pregnancy. Family recovery plans include medical care, recovery support and connections to community services for both the child and caregiver. By orienting care around a family-first model, the measure aims to reduce harms, support at-risk new and expecting mothers and ultimately help keep families together.

Senate Bill 3136 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1.