Pregnancy and Substance Use: Risks, Misconceptions and Research-based Guidance

Most of us have heard general advice to avoid alcohol and other toxic substances during pregnancy. But what about a pregnant woman who is addicted to alcohol? Opioids? Heroin? How might withdrawal harm the mom or baby? What medications could reduce the woman’s cravings and which of those, if any, are safe for the growing baby? And how about the impact on babies of legal marijuana, which some dispensaries recommend to relieve nausea in early pregnancy?   These questions and more are the focus of Marti & Erin’s interview with Dr. Alta DeRoo, an OB/GYN and board-certified addiction medicine specialist who is Medical Director of Hazelden Betty Ford’s three facilities in Southern California, building on her 24-year career in the U.S. Military. If you or someone you know are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, don’t miss the important information Dr. DeRoo brings to this episode of Mom Enough. (Thank you to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for being a longtime a supporting partner to Mom Enough.)   WHAT MYTHS HAVE YOU HELD ON PREGNANCY AND SUBSTANCE USE? What information did you find surprising in this discussion of pregnancy and substance use? To what extent do you think expectant or prospective parents are receiving the information they need in order to protect the prenatal development of their babies? What could be done to reach a broader audience with this essential information?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREGNANCY AND SUBSTANCE USE? ❉ OPIOID ADDICTION: KEYS TO PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FROM THE HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. What can parents do to protect the children and adults in our family and community from the dangers of opioids? Ahmed Eid, Addiction Program Manager at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, brings answers that every parent should hear. He addresses safer options for managing pain, how to dispose of leftover opioids, signs of opioid addiction, and effective treatment options.   ❉ PARENTAL ADDICTION: IMPACT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP & HOW TO HEAL TOGETHER. Parental addiction has significant effects on children and the parent-child relationship, but there is hope and healing is possible. Helene Photias, national director of operations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Children’s Program, and Paula Frisk, senior director of zero to five home visiting programs at St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, join Marti & Erin to discuss keys to helping parents and children move toward healing, build more positive and secure relationships, and create the fun and joy that every child and parent deserves.   ❉ HOPE FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION: EXPERT ADVICE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Kate Roselle, licensed clinical counselor and national outreach manager for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s adolescent and young adult continuum of care, joins Mom Enough for a compelling discussion on families facing addiction. She shares tips for effecting change if a loved one is struggling,