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Kicking drug and alcohol addiction is already complicated. For women who are pregnant, there’s an additional level of hardship. Three states have laws against illegal drug use during pregnancy, so seeking treatment can land a woman in jail. But without treatment, women risk causing significant harm to the fetus. Access, motivation and stigma are also barriers for those considering treatment for addiction. Every 25 minutes a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. We’ll look at programs aimed at helping pregnant addicts and some of the barriers to implementing them.
Guests:
Shirley Cain (Red Lake Nation) – Native American equity policy specialist in the child safety and permanency division at the Minnesota Department of Human Services
Don Moore (Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians) – director of chemical dependency in special communities in the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division for the Minnesota department of Human Services
Julie Williams (White Earth Nation) – MOMs program manager
Mina Spalla (White Earth Nation) – Registered Nurse with the MOMs program
Break music: Little Earthings (song) The Jir Project Band (artist) Sun Child (album)
