Breaking Stigma for Pregnant Moms in Recovery

Colorado hospitals are flipping the script on how they care for pregnant patients with substance use disorders—shifting from judgment to genuine support to save lives. Overdose is a leading cause of death for new moms in the state, and stigma is a major barrier. It all started when moms in labor showed staff a graffiti tag saying “Have your baby at Lutheran,” revealing a hidden safe space where help is offered without shame. After birth, they’re connected to recovery, peer support, and sober living. Stigma in healthcare is real—providers often use dismissive language, making patients afraid to speak up. To fix it, a 90-minute training program, co-created with women in recovery, has trained over 1,400 healthcare workers across 33 facilities. It tackles trauma, shares raw patient stories, and teaches non-stigmatizing communication. Results? Providers now see addiction as treatable, feel more confident discussing substance use, and are better equipped to support moms—building trust and improving outcomes for mothers and babies alike. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c8b54048a8b8aa60