Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy-Community Team Initiative and the Family-centered Integrated Treatment of Substance Use (FITS U) Buncombe County workgroup is working with CHIP staff to identify results and indicators to facilitate collective efforts to reduce substance use in Buncombe County.

When we achieve this result:

• All families in Buncombe County are healthy and productive.
• All women and families have access to behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment.
• Babies are born healthy and thriving families are supported by living wages, resilient communities, and have access to safe housing.

Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy-Community Team Initiative and the Family-centered Integrated Treatment of Substance Use (FITS U) Buncombe County workgroup is working with CHIP staff to identify results and indicators to facilitate collective efforts to reduce substance use in Buncombe County.

According to the CDC, drugs overdose deaths in the United States hit record numbers in 2014. The majority of those involved opioids including prescription pain relievers and heroin, and 78 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the US has nearly quadrupled. Substance abuse is a priority for Healthy NC 2020 because addiction to drugs or alcohol is a chronic health problem, and people who suffer from abuse or dependence are at risk for premature death, comorbid health conditions, injuries, and disability. Therefore, prevention of misuse and abuse of substances is critical. Furthermore, substance abuse has adverse consequences for families, communities, and society, contributing to family upheaval, the state’s crime rate, and motor vehicle fatalities.

Substance use disorders in pregnancy are an emerging concern in Buncombe county and the Western North Carolina region. About 400 babies were delivered with positive toxicology from mothers at Mission Hospital in 2015. Additionally, 85% of children in foster care were placed there related to substance abuse issues and many of those children were under the age of 2. Substance use disorders have significant impact on individuals and families. Families who live with addiction may become traumatized to varying degree because of the emotional, psychological and behavioral instability that comes along with substance use disorders. During early childhood, this environment can negatively impact development and attachment which can have lifelong impacts on children involved.

Buncombe County Health and Human Services:

Family Planning and STD Clinics: Women's wellness visits, family planning services and STD screening, education, treatment and follow-up

Nurse Family Partnership: NFP is an evidence-based community health program that helps transform the lives of vulnerable mothers pregnant with their first child. Each mother served by NFP is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits that continue through her child’s second birthday.

Community Care of Western North Carolina (CCWNC):

HHS Community Service Navigators: The CSN initiative was created to connect people with Buncombe County Health and Human Services, strengthen the communities capacity to help meet citizen needs, empower citizens and communities as change agents to promote positive outcomes, build and enhance collaborative partnerships, and reduce over utilization of more costly services.

Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (ADATC): ADATC provides detox services and residential treatment as well as collaboration onsite with MAHEC OB high risk clinic, ADATC can administer MAT

MAHEC High Risk OB: Clinic provides prenatal care and Substance Use Disorders assessment and linkage to services.

Medication Assisted Treatment Programs:

BHG Asheville: provide opioid replacement and basic SUD therapy

Crossroads Treatment Center: provide opioid replacement and basic SUD therapy

Mission NAS Project: Duke Endowment awarded Mission Health a grant to support the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome program, which was developed to wean babies who were exposed to drugs while in utero. The program was developed here at Mission Hospital in Asheville, and has since become a worldwide protocol. This program will aid in solidifying and educating eligible families.

Mt. Zion Community Development, Inc.: Project NAF (Nurturing Asheville & Area Families) is Buncombe County's Minority Infant Mortality Program that provides advocacy and support services to African American pregnant and post-partum women and their babies; Project EMPOWER (Education Means Power), one of Buncombe County's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives, which works in collaboration with the Asheville City Schools System and Foundation.

October Road: SAIOP for pregnant/non-pregnant women

RHA Behavioral Health Services:

Neil Dobbins Center: detoxification first trimester case by case

Mary Benson House: provides residential option for women with young children and coordinates with WRC for SACOT

VAYA Health: Smoky Mountain LME/MCO is a public managed care organization that oversees Medicaid, state and local funding and offers a comprehensive health plan for individuals and families in need of mental health, substance use or intellectual /developmental disability services.

Women’s Recovery Center (WRC): WRC provides engagement and support as well as SACOT for Mary Benson House clients and others. Also collaboration onsite with MAHEC OB high risk clinic

Western North Carolina Community Health Services (WNCCHS): Federally Qualified Health Center provides prenatal care, case management, SUD assessment and therapy, and linkage to other services. Does not provide transportation or childcare

YWCA MotherLove: MotherLove is a comprehensive program for pregnant and parenting teens. The goals of the MotherLove Program are that pregnant and parenting teens stay in school, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy.

Buncombe CHIP Substance Use Disorders Workgroup