There’s stigma around people with addictions, there’s more stigma around women with addictions, and there’s maybe none more stigmatized than pregnant women with addictions.

Today’s episode is all about pregnant women with opioid use disorders and some of the considerations for that particular group.

One thing that is a huge liability for an addicted mom raising a child is the nonstop gossip and judgement that they have to deal with it. Culturally no one is as judged as an an addicted mother of a young child. Addicted pregnant women absorb that shame and stigma, both of which are major deterrents to getting good treatment and seeking help so it’s in no way helpful for anyone.

This episode answers some of the basic myths and misinformation around what the research shows is the best for this population. Because with support, encouragement and reassurance, along with good medical care, the woman can have a comfortable, healthy pregnancy, deliver a healthy baby and be a wonderful new mom.

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For individual coaching, contact jeff.simone@12rulesforrecovery.com or schedule online for free 15-min discovery call.

Words matter.

There’s no question about that – they’re a big driving force of stigma, and it’s always a heated debate when it comes to semantics with these touchy areas.

One of the many challenges is that while the healthcare guidelines move away from words like 'addict,' many popular 12-step fellowships have fully embedded that word into their culture, and a lot people choose to use it as a point of personal pride.

But despite of this, in recent years the culture has been shifting heavily against the use of that word. For example, most dictionaries have replaced all instances of addict used as a noun with “a person addicted to” or a “habitual user of.”

But why would a dictionary change a word that’s been around for centuries? The way we use language evolves—and so do dictionaries. And when it comes to words around addiction, there’s been a lot of evolution in recent years.

Episode 19 discusses the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)'s recent updated guidelines on the language they recommend using and avoiding when talking about substance use disorders.

In this show I'll provide a review of the recommendations, personal perspectives on the topic of language, and of course some relatively unrelated tangents and personal stories that you've come to expect from these episodes :-)

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Follow on Instagram at Reaction Recovery for daily topics.

Interview episode #7 is with John and Jude Trang - parents who lost their youngest child, John Leif, to a heroin overdose in 2014 at age 25.

Today John is an independent pharmaceutical researcher and consultant and Jude is a full-time advocate for addiction recovery treatment and author of Opiate Nation : A Memoir of Love, Loss & Acceptance.

This was an incredibly powerful episode and a must-watch for anyone who has lost a loved one to addiction or is currently struggling to know how best to address a loved ones active addiction.

John and Jude describe the early days of John Leif's addiction, they offer insight and guidance for parents who are just becoming aware of a child's addiction, their perspective on the opioid crisis and prevention strategies that we should be pursuing.

Other topics include:

- Impact of Trauma on Addiction
- Genetic Predisposition
- Brain Development in Early Years
- Family Histories of Addiction
- Advice to Parents
- Insights into Why Overdoses Continue to Rise
- Thoughts on Harm-Reduction / MAT Strategies
- Preventative Measure that Can Help
- Addiction Stigma
- Grief Processing
- What People Can Do to Help

You can read more of Jude's writing at OpiateNation.com and follow her on Instagram @judedimegliotrang.

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