University of Tennessee audit finds flaws in pregnancy opioid study

An audit by the University of Tennessee has raised significant concerns regarding a widely celebrated study conducted by Dr. Craig Towers on treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy. The research, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2020, suggested that naltrexone maintenance could be a viable alternative to the standard use of methadone or buprenorphine, reporting lower rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

However, auditors concluded that Towers failed to obtain necessary university approval for the study and found that documentation for certain components was inaccurate, contradictory, or impossible to verify. Despite these findings and concerns raised by addiction and pregnancy specialists, the study gained national recognition and influenced clinical approaches in several Tennessee communities and in Florida.

Dr. Towers has rejected the audit’s conclusions. He has since retired from his position, citing health and family reasons.