Virginia Tackles Addiction Care for Expecting and New Moms

Kathryn Haines tells a story from years ago but could have happened just last week. No matter the date, Virginia mothers have lost children to adoption while in the grip of addiction and near-fatal overdoses. 

The repeated scenario now brings medical experts, community organizations, lawmakers and folks in recovery to Richmond last September at Virginia Commonwealth University. The goal was to focus on addiction care for pregnant and postpartum women.

The event, “First Steps to Healthier Families: Effective Substance Use Policy for Virginia Moms and Babies,” was hosted by VCU’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies with support from Delegate C.E. “Cliff” Hayes.

The Stakes in the Data

Dr. Caitlin Martin is associate professor in VCU’s School of Medicine and director of the OB MOTIVATE clinics at VCU Health. She noted that 40% of pregnancy-associated deaths are due to overdose, yet little funding flows to prevention programs to avoid drug use in the first place. Stigma and state laws keep many moms from seeking help for drugs, and the consequences have torn families apart.

Treatment & Medication are Safe

Martin pointed to a collaborative care model that integrates women’s healthcare with addiction treatment and wraparound support. This integrated approach improves outcomes for both mother and baby.

Experts stressed that evidence-based medications for addiction are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with endorsements from the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But the way code language is written fuels negative perceptions about these meds, even among physicians.

Geography and Cost Shape Help

Access varies by location. Many women drive hours to Richmond or Roanoke for care because one locality may fund addiction treatment while the next doesn’t. The event also highlighted the Virginia Opioid Cost Data Tool, a partnership between VCU and the Virginia Department of Health. It shows that early interventions for mothers saves money on foster care, long-term treatment and other downstream costs.

After the presentations, roundtable discussions let lawmakers question leading researchers directly. That’s where one mother in recovery, Bishop, told her story to Senator David Suetterlein. 

Treatment in The Old Dominion & Beyond

Mothers all across the country experience the same situations that women in Virginia do. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and the way we respond should take individual circumstances into account.

Finding treatment remains a priority. No matter your location, help is standing by. Look at available local centers via our online directory, filtered by city and level of care.

You can also dial 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) to discuss local options alongside an expert.

Author

Nikki Wisher, BA

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Nikki Wisher is an Atlanta-based content writer who specializes in health and wellness. After earning her BA in English, she has been writing in the health and wellness space for over a decade, with credits ranging from addiction recovery to fitness to aesthetics and skin care. This includes her inclusive running blog forallrunners.com.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time