Pregnant people who use substances face an incredible amount of stigma and judgment compared to those who don’t use substances. Not everyone has the ability, resources, or desire to stop using substances during pregnancy. Substance use during pregnancy is a complicated medical and legal situation to navigate. Perinatal support people, healthcare workers, and other professionals have a duty to create a space and relationship with their clients and patients that is compassionate, non-judgemental, and affirming. This webinar will focus on how to support pregnant people who use substances through a harm reduction framework. We’ll explore topics such as:

• Trauma-informed care
• Laws around substance use and pregnancy
• Patient rights
• Communication with healthcare workers
• Pain relief options in labor
• Postpartum and newborn care

The Panelists:

Carlyn Mast, LCSW is a perinatal psychotherapist working at the intersection of pregnancy and drug use. Carlyn practices with a harm reduction framework and focuses on the civil rights of pregnant people and their families. Along with being a practicing therapist, Carlyn supports parents navigating the Family Regulation System to regain custody of their children.

Ash Woods (they/them) is a full spectrum doula practicing on Coast Salish land in Seattle Washington. They view doula work as community work, and are dedicated to dismantling the stigmas associated with perinatal drug use. They helped form The Harm Reduction Doula Collective to meet the needs of pregnant people using drugs. They build partnerships in the local community to help clients navigate various resources; medical care, housing, legal aid, treatment, and more.

Adi Lazary-Dagan, CNM is a full-scope midwife, working at Johns Hopkins University since 2009, at the Bayview campus. Since 2011, Adi has been covering CAP (Center for Addiction and Pregnancy), which is the clinic specifically for pregnant people with substance use disorder. Adi completed her BA in nursing and RN at Tel Aviv University in Israel, and midwifery and MS at Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Adi is currently a Doctor of Nursing Practice student at Frontier university with projected graduation in September 2022.