That urgency brought medical experts, community organizations, lawmakers and people in recovery to Richmond on September 23, for an event at Virginia Commonwealth University that focused 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, who gave opening remarks.

The Stakes in the Data

Caitlin Martin, M.D., associate professor in VCU’s School of Medicine and director of the OB MOTIVATE clinics at VCU Health, laid out the central statistic. Forty percent of pregnancy-associated deaths are due to overdose yet little funding flows to prevention.

Stigma and the wording of state code keep many mothers afraid to seek help for substance use disorder with consequences that ripple across families and state budgets.

The event highlighted research tied to two General Assembly bills from Sen. Mamie E. Locke and Delegate Hayes (SB 133 and HB 652) which created a work group evaluating Virginia’s response to parental, prenatal and postnatal substance use. The work group reports its recommendations to the General Assembly on December 1.

Treatment Works, and Medication Is Safe

Martin pointed to a collaborative care model that integrates women’s healthcare with addiction treatment and wraparound supports for social drivers of health. Research has shown that this approach improves outcomes for both mother and baby.

Experts stressed that evidence-based medications for addiction are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s been endorsed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The way code language is written, however, fuels negative perceptions of these medications.

Geography and Cost Shape Who Gets Help

Access varies sharply by location. Many women drive hours to Richmond or Roanoke for care, because one locality may fund evidence-based addiction treatment while the next does not.

The event also highlighted the Virginia Opioid Cost Data Tool, a partnership between VCU and the Virginia Department of Health, which shows the state that early intervention 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 is where one mother in recovery, Bishop, told her story to Sen. David Suetterlein. “They were wonderful discussions with both practitioners and previously addicted mothers who were able to get the help,” the Roanoke lawmaker said.

Finding Addiction Treatment

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Quentin Blount Written By: Quentin Blount Content Director
Quentin brings over a decade of experience in writing, editing, and digital publishing to his role as Content Director at Rehab.com, where he leads a full-scale content operation across addiction treatment, mental health, and behavioral health verticals. He has experience managing large editorial teams, executing content strategy for clients, and building the workflows and systems that keep high-volume publishing operations running efficiently. Quentin is committed to making treatment information accessible, trustworthy, and easy to navigate for people seeking help for themselves or their loved ones. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, friends, family, and dog, Coop.