MDDCSAM Supports Legislation to Require Screening and Treatment for Pregnant People in Carceral Settings

On February 7th, the Maryland-DC Society of Addiction Medicine (MDDCSAM) submitted written testimony in support of SB 190 to members of the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings. SB 190 would require each incarcerated person who is pregnant to be screened for SUD at intake, provided with medications and treatment, and connected with follow-up health care services upon release.

In the letter, MDDCSAM expressed strong support for SB 190. Specifically, MDDCSAM noted that drug overdose is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Maryland. As such, ensuring that pregnant people receive evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) is a top priority. Additionally, MDDCSAM emphasized the importance of universal screening and treatment for pregnant persons within a carceral setting. Further, MDDCSAM also highlighted the necessity to connect pregnant and postpartum people to community resources in a prompt manner after release, due to the elevated risk of overdose death during this period. In sum, MDDCSAM praised SB 190 as an evidence-based policy to ensure that pregnant people in carceral settings receive screening, treatment, and support for SUD and OUD.

Read the testimony here.