Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and misusing opioids are encouraged to get help today. A mother’s misuse has a number of consequences, not only for her, but also for her baby. Opioid use disorder has been linked to maternal death and, for babies, it has been linked to poor fetal growth, premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome.
At Behavioral Health NV we are committed to sharing the numerous resources available across the state for those ready to take the important first step in getting help. It is important to note that pregnant and postpartum women seeking treatment receive priority admission at any state-funded substance use treatment center. Call 211 or talk to your medical provider to get the right help for you.
“I never thought I would be the kind of person that would be doing drugs while they were pregnant,” Kaisha Martinez, recovering opioid addict, said. “Everything changed and it took a while. I never thought I would be as powerful as I am today. You can do anything you can put your mind to. Nothing can stand in your way.”
Resources available:
Nevada’s Maternal & Child Health program and Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Agency (SAPTA) are here to help pregnant women struggling with alcohol and drug use. Sober Moms, Healthy Babies is Nevada’s online resource for mom’s dealing with substance use and looking for low cost and free programs.
Nevada 2-1-1 is committed to helping Nevadans connect with local resources and services you may need such as housing, mental health, addiction, transportation and family support services.
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health has a page on the site listing a number of Nevada maternity and child services.
Maternal Opioid Treatment, Health Education and Recovery
The High Risk Pregnancy Center in both Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada offers evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options combined with specialized maternal-fetal medicine (MFM). Medication, alone, however, is not the answer.
The High Risk Pregnancy Center offers what they refer to as “wrap-around services,” providing a behavioral health program to facilitate and coordinate the medication-assisted treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, behavioral health services, treatment for co-occurring disorders, aftercare planning, patient education, help from outside resources and other individualized services.
Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
The CARA Plan of Care is a voluntary referral to services designed to support the health and safety of you and your baby, both now and in the months ahead. The hospital care team will offer mothers a CARA Plan of Care if your baby was affected by drugs or alcohol in the womb. You and your care team will develop the CARA Plan of care together before you leave the hospital. Its purpose is to make sure you and your baby remain healthy, support you in caring for your baby at home and to connect you and your baby with needed services.
Offering mental health counseling and substance use prevention/treatment to pregnant and postpartum individuals in Northern Nevada for up to one year postpartum, Quest’s goal is to provide effective, non-judgmental care to clients, including Targeted Case Management, Peer Support Recovery Specialist care, psychiatry and MAT services.
The Nevada Home Visiting Program supports agencies and organizations which administer home visiting services to pregnant women, mothers, fathers, and caregivers in the education of their young children to improve maternal and newborn health, improve school readiness, and to reduce child injuries, neglect, and abuse.
Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge.