Women who are trying to conceive while struggling with substance abuse issues have a unique set of needs. If they’re already pregnant, they’ll need even more specialized care. Drugs and alcohol directly affect fetal development, so it’s important to seek help as soon as you are able.
What are the risks of substance abuse on fertility and pregnancy?
For women who are trying to conceive, drugs and alcohol can have negative effects on their menstrual cycle, egg quality, ovarian weight, and hormonal concentration. All of these effects can make it harder for women to conceive. During pregnancy, a pregnant person and their developing baby share a bloodstream. This means that substances are shared between the pregnant person and the developing baby. A developing baby doesn’t have enough enzymes yet to constantly detoxify their blood. Repeated exposure can lead to an elevated risk for various forms of stunted development, stillbirth, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
Getting help for substance abuse may seem daunting, but the effects of substance abuse make seeking support incredibly important.
Your benefits
ScanSource employees and their partners and dependents have access to a few different services when it comes to treating substance abuse.
To learn more about your benefits, you can give Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina a call by calling the number on the back of your insurance card.
EAP options
Through ScanSource, you may have access to EAP Youturn Health that you and eligible dependents can use to resolve situations that might be interfering at work or at home.
Youturn Health
Youturn Health is a confidential, virtual program that takes an evidence-based approach to help you identify–and support you through–challenges associated with behavioral health. These challenges may include stress, addiction, boundary setting, self-care and coping, anxiety, and grief. Available tools are peer coaching, resources, and an online learning library.
Youturn provides an around-the-clock platform that you can sign up for to view a large library of stress and mental health videos. They have licensed coaches available to help you and your eligible dependents with everyday stress and mental health and life coaching. If additional help is needed, licensed therapists are also available. One particular aspect of this platform that is popular among employees is the coaching sessions. The coaches are flexible, available to connect with employees via email, text messages, phone call, and in-person meetings. Weekly check-ins are common, and these coaches are there whenever you need them. It starts off as a 3-month program, and then they’ll reevaluate your needs. You can stop and resume your sessions whenever you’d like.
To enroll, visit YouturnHealth.com. Your registration code is: scscpowerup
For more information about Youturn, call 888-520-1868 or email Admissions@YouturnHealth.com.
