It takes a village to care for a newborn and navigate early motherhood, but mothers with a history of opioid dependency often lack the community support that can help them thrive. Stigma can be a barrier to getting proper care for themselves and their babies, which may be heightened for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Even the act of asking nurses at the hospital for advice can seem daunting.

This episode, we talk to people and organizations who are working to reduce stigma and improve outcomes. By providing compassionate care, both mothers and infants can be set up for success.

Guests:

• Nikole Young, Director at Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center
• Tara Sundem, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hushabye Nursery
• Justin Phillips, CEO and Founder of Overdose Lifeline

To learn more about what Emergent is doing to help combat the opioid epidemic, visit www.emergentbiosolutions.com

Navigating the criminal justice system can be a difficult experience for anyone, but for people who struggle with opioid use, or those in recovery, these challenges can feel insurmountable. Treatment within jails and prisons is not consistent, and people can be left with more challenges than solutions upon release.

In this episode, we will hear from people doing the work to move the needle and equip people with evidence-based resources to prevent opioid overdose and promote recovery.

Guests:

• Chris Chavez, Regional Manager of Community Programs at HOPE Incorporated.
• Dr. Olivia Sugarman, postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Jason Edgcomb, Superintendent at the LaSalle County Jail

To learn more about what Emergent is doing to help combat the opioid epidemic, visit www.emergentbiosolutions.com

Welcome back to Countermeasures. In our upcoming season, we are taking a closer look at some of the communities hit hardest by the opioid crisis. From the corridors of elder care facilities to the bustling halls of high schools, we’ll hear from advocates, public health experts, and people who are using their lived experience to make things better for their communities. Together, we'll come to better understand the opioid crisis and discover a new way forward.

To learn more about what Emergent is doing to help address the opioid crisis, visit www.emergentbiosolutions.com