Published: 07/2/2026 | Author: Eric Owens

Louisiana’s opioid crisis is increasingly a maternal health crisis, and a statewide summit is putting that connection front and center. The Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) hosted its 10th Annual Opioid Summit focused on opioid addiction among mothers, infants, and families.

Louisiana features many inpatient facilities that can assist pregnant women, and local grassroots community centers and Narcotics Anonymous chapters exist in almost every neighborhood. But the concern that many residents have remains urgent, as infants have a  high risk of being born with substance use disorders if their mothers take drugs. That’s where NEDHSA came in.

A Decade of Confronting Opioid Addiction

NEDHSA serves twelve parishes across Northeast Louisiana and marked a decade of convening the event.

The summit took place June 25, 2026, at the Bayou Pointe Event Center on the University of Louisiana Monroe campus. The theme featured “Addiction and Maternal Health: Opioid Use in Vulnerable Populations.” Over 200 healthcare leaders, behavioral health experts and professionals, local and state policymakers, and community advocates attended. 

Maternal Opioid Use is in the Spotlight

NEDHSA noted that since 2018, accidental opioid overdose through fentanyl and other drugs has remained the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths in Louisiana. Behind those numbers are mothers and infants whose outcomes can change with early intervention and coordinated care. 

“For far too long, addiction has eroded the health, stability, and promise of our communities,” noted Dr. Monteic A. Sizer, NEDHSA’s executive director. Sizer framed the summit as a push for solutions grounded in science and compassion. Presentations covered emerging trends in addiction treatment, stigma reduction, and recovery support.

New Treatment for Mothers & Families

NEDHSA recently expanded its care through the R.I.S.E. Treatment Center. The acronym stands for Reaching Independence through Support and Education and specializes in assisting pregnant women and mothers with substance miseuse. The program blends an interdisciplinary mix of behavioral counseling, primary care for moms and their kids, peer support and wraparound services. R.I.S.E. can help women recover while keeping families together.

Beyond clinical care, peer support is a backbone of long-term opioid recovery. Narcotics Anonymous offers free, community-based meetings where people recovering from narcotic addiction find accountability and support from others who understand. 

For families touched by the opioid crisis, pairing treatment and peer recovery with access to naloxone, the overdose-reversal medication, gives communities more ways to keep people alive while they pursue recovery.

Find Opioid Treatment and NA Meetings

If you or someone you love faces an opioid addiction, help is within reach. Search for NA meetings and connect with local opioid treatment programs right in your community. 

Don’t wait. Call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) for opioid addiction treatment and recovery resources, and our searchable directory lists NA chapters all across the nation.