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The home for VPR's coverage of health and health industry issues affecting the state of Vermont.

Latest Story In 'Hooked' Series Tackles Opioid Addiction, Pregnancy And Stigma

A woman holds a copy of the weekly newspaper Seven Days featuring a story in the "Hooked" series on opioids and addiction.
Matthew Smith
/
VPR
Writer Kate O'Neill's yearlong series, "Hooked: Stories and Solutions from Vermont's Opioid Crisis," continues with this month's story addressing opioid addiction and pregnancy.

The stigma surrounding opioid addiction is pervasive. Many grappling with it, and even those years into their recovery, often struggle to talk with their doctors or families about it. But when addiction and recovery intersect with pregnancy, that stigma is only amplified. 

Health care providers may not know how to talk to an expectant mother about addiction, or how detox drugs like buprenorphine might affect the pregnancy.

These mothers also contend with the constant fear that revealing drug use could mean their baby is taken away.

This year, writer Kate O’Neill has worked with Seven Days on the series "Hooked: Stories and Solutions from Vermont's Opioid Crisis." Her work often re-examines the life of her sister, Madelyn Linsenmeir, whose bracing obituary O'Neill wrote in Oct. 2018. The obituary was candid about Linsenmeir's opioid-related death, and went viral soon after it was published.

O'Neill's latest story focuses on pregnant women, new mothers and opioids. She joins Vermont Edition to discuss the stigma, shame and medical care hurdles women with opioid-use disorder and in recovery often face.

Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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