Season 5, episode 6 of Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond features two members of the Project CARA team who implement and operationalize the contingency management (CM) program at MAHEC in a perinatal setting. This is an effective, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder that is based on positive reinforcement throughout recovery. Despite its proven efficacy, implementing CM can come with logistical challenges and barriers. Listen in to learn how Project CARA navigated these in designing their own CM program to provide optimal, patient-centered care. 

Key Resources

• Jones, H. E., et al. (2012). Voucher-based contingency management improves outcomes in substance use treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 43(3), 267–274.
• Festinger, D. S., Dugosh, K. L., Kirby, K. C., & Seymour, B. L. (2014). Contingency management for cocaine treatment: Cash vs. vouchers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 47(2), 168–174. 
• SAMHSA. (2025). Contingency management for the treatment of substance use disorders: Advisory. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Rash, C. J. (2023). Implementing an evidence-based prize contingency management protocol for stimulant use disorders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2024, November 7). Contingency management for the treatment of substance use disorders: Enhancing access, quality, and program integrity for an evidence-based intervention (Report to Congress). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (3rd ed.). National Institutes of Health.
• Major, E., Blake, E., Bass, R., Galvin, A., Crowder, T., & Ramage, M. (2023). Contingency management in a perinatal substance exposure clinic. The American Journal of Accountable Care, 11(2), 16-21. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajac.2023.89380

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Season 5, episode 5 of Just Us: Before, Birth and Beyond features three addiction specialists in Western North Carolina. Erin Bowman, LCAS, LCSW, CCS; Zach White, LCAS, LCSW; and Blake Fagan, MD, discuss the current state of recovery housing in Western NC. They review best practices for recovery institutions, with an emphasis on non-punitive approaches. Erin Bowman highlights common barriers to recovery housing access and areas for improvement within this valuable resource for people in recovery from substance use disorder. Tune in to learn how providers can maximize their patients’ access to residences in their area. 

Key Resources:

• SAMHSA (2023) -  Best Practices for Recovery Housing
• NARR - Home | National Alliance for Recovery Residences
• MAHEC - FindMyCareWNC - Interactive map for Transitions, Access, and Continuity of Care (ITACC) 
• Recovery friendly workplaces - Recovery Friendly NC
• National Alliance for Recovery Residences - Recovery Housing Policy Brief
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing - Demonstrating the Value of Recovery Housing: Technical Expert Panel Findings
• National Council for Behavioral Health & NARR - Building Recovery: State Policy Guide for Supporting Recovery Housing
• Mericle AA, Howell J, Borkman T, Subbaraman MS, Sanders BF, Polcin DL. Social Model Recovery and Recovery Housing. Addict Res Theory. 2023;31(5):370-377. doi:10.1080/16066359.2023.2179996 
• Polcin DL, Korcha RA, Bond J, Galloway G. Sober living houses for alcohol and drug dependence: 18-month outcomes. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2010;38(4):356-365. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2010.02.003
• Jason LA, Olson BD, Ferrari JR, Lo Sasso AT. Communal housing settings enhance substance abuse recovery. Am J Public Health. 2006;96(10):1727-1729. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.070839

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Music credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Season 5, episode 4 of Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond features Dr. Nate Mullins, an Ob/Gyn physician, and Dr. Olivia Caron, PharmD, both providers at project CARA. Drs. Mullins and Caron dive deeply into the nuances of methadone in the era of highly potent synthetic opioids, identifying challenges to induction, modern regulations, and methadone during pregnancy. Tune in for a deep discussion regarding this valuable medication for opioid use disorder.

Resources: 

• SAMHSA Methadone Fact Page: https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options/methadone 
• SAMHSA and DHHS – Federal Ruling Updates Regarding Opioid Treatment Programs: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/02/2024-01693/medications-for-the-treatment-of-opioid-use-disorder 
• Jones HE, Fischer G, Heil SH, et al. Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER)--approach, issues and lessons learned. Addiction. 2012;107 Suppl 1(0 1):28-35. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04036.x 
• Information on split dosing during pregnancy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25599433/ 
• Find the location of opioid treatment programs in your state: https://www.thecentralregistry.com/map/

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Music credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

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Season 5, episode 3 of Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond features behavioral health therapists Caitlin Hettich and Jen Palin, as well as research associate and social worker Megan Williams. They discuss the importance of providing quality, non-punitive healthcare to women who are incarcerated, especially those who are pregnant or experiencing a substance use disorder.  Learn how they navigate the flaws of the criminal justice system, insurance difficulties, and other complicating factors to support patients on their path to recovery throughout incarceration. 

Resources: 

• CASAWorks program: https://ncpoep.org/guidance-document/treatment-matters/nc-perinatal-and-maternal-substance-abuse-and-the-casaworks-for-families-residential-initiatives/  
• Never Use Alone - US National Overdose Prevention Line: https://neverusealone.com/ 
• Sylvia Rivera Law Project: https://srlp.org/
• Fisher, Janina (2021). Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists. PESI Publishing & Media. 
• Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness: https://sunriseinasheville.org/
• Incarcerated Women’s Health, part of the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health: https://incarceratedwomenshealth.org/
• NC Department of Health and Human Services - Medicaid eligibility clarification letter: https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/flyer-medicaid-recertification-englishspanish/open
• North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services: https://www.ncpls.org/
• Operation Gateway - Recovery and Reentry: https://www.operationgateway.org/
• UNC Horizons Justice Involved Specific Services: https://www.med.unc.edu/obgyn/horizons/our-services/justice-involved-specific-services/
• Asheville Community Bail Fund: https://avlcommunitybail.carrd.co/
• NC Community Bail Fund of Durham: https://www.nccbailfund.org/donate

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Music credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Season 5, episode 2 of the Just Us podcast places an emphasis on the treatment of substance use disorder in adolescents and young adults. Psychiatrist Leeallie Carter and family medicine physician Blake Fagan discuss the interactions between human biology, adverse childhood experiences, and substance use during this developmental period. The nuances of and barriers to adolescent SUD treatment are discussed in detail. Listen in to learn more!

Resources: 

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment Resources for Youth, Young Adults, and Families: https://opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/substance-use-adolescence 
• Resources to Address the Opioid Epidemic: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/substance-use-and-prevention/resources-to-address-the-opioid-epidemic/ 
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment Resources for Youth, Young Adults, and Families: https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/youth-and-families 

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Music credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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We are excited to kick off season 5 of the Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond podcast with two peer support extraordinaries, Cassie York and Cassie Burleson. This episode dives deeply into what it means to be a peer support specialist, discussing the unique role they fill in supporting people through recovery. Listen in to learn about how the Cassies’ lived experience has allowed them to be such incredible advocates for their patients, processes for becoming a peer support specialist, and more! 

Resources: 

• North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program https://www.ncdhhs.gov/cpssapplicationprocess20240425/open 
• North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Program: https://pss.unc.edu/ 
• Scannell C. (2021). Voices of Hope: Substance Use Peer Support in a System of Care. Substance abuse : research and treatment, 15, 11782218211050360. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211050360 
• Center for Health Care Strategies (Jan 2026). Peer Recovery Support Services in Substance Use Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.chcs.org/resource/peer-recovery-support-services-in-substance-use-treatment/ 
• Eddie, D., O’Connor, J.B., George, S.S. et al. Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review. Curr Addict Rep 12, 40 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-025-00645-8

We would love your feedback on our podcast!  Please take our listener survey to provide your comments. Music credit: "Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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In the latest Just Us: Before, Birth, and Beyond podcast, we dive into a critical topic: trust in healthcare.

Brandon Romstadt (WNC Health Network) and Dr. Bryan Hodge (MAHEC) talk about how patients and providers work together-especially during public health challenges like the recent measles concern in our region.

It's a meaningful conversation about connection, communication, and community care. 

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Join Katlyn Moss and Dr. Suzanne Dixon for this special episode created with patients in mind!  Sometimes it’s hard for patients to open up and discuss their health care needs and questions with their OB/GYN when it comes to symptoms such as irregular periods, painful periods and heavy bleeding. They will highlight some of the most common conditions and treatments throughout the phases of life, from the teenage years through menopause.  

 
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In this episode, our host Dr. Suzanne Dixon, talks to Dr. Bhaskari Burra, a MAHEC OB/GYN Fellow, about Sepsis. Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and in this episode our speakers will discuss how to recognize it, how to respond, the sources of infection and long-term effects.  They will also share some resources to help maintain best practices when working with patients with sepsis, and helping them to navigate their recovery.

Resources

SMFM Consult Series #47: Sepsis during pregnancy and the puerperium

California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Sepsis Toolkit

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Join some of the Perinatal Nurse Outreach Coordinators from around North Carolina for this lively discussion of AWHONN’s Respectful Maternity Care initiative.  You’ll learn what Respectful Maternity Care is, what it means for patients and clinicians, and how it helps to improve health outcomes. They will talk about how this program is implemented, and provide resources for you to learn more about bringing this to your practice.

Resources

AWHONN Respectful Maternity Care toolkit

North Carolina Respectful Care hub

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