Pregnant addicts, focus for task force and seen often at Gundersen

Pregnant women affected by opiate abuse was the focus of the Wisconsin Heroin Task Force this month.

OBGYN Charles Schauberger of Gundersen Health System in La Crosse said they get 20-30 per year and it’s a struggle to convince them to allow to be helped.

“They may have had some bad experiences in the past so trying to convince them we’re here to help them and we’re on their side and want to see them be successful is very important,” Schauberg said.

Schauberger said they work with child protective services and the county social services to make sure the baby is coming home to a safe place once it is born.

He says those women have similar issues to other opiate addicted patients.

“Lack of housing, transportation, poor communication and mental health issues like depression and anxiety,” he said.

Schauberger thinks more resources from the state would be beneficial.