Tulsa: New Clinic Merges Maternal Care and Addiction Treatment

Oklahoma State University Medicine in Tulsa has launched a clinic that consolidates addiction treatment and obstetric care under one roof. The OSU Maternal and Addiction Recovery Care Program is the first in eastern Oklahoma to pair board-certified addiction medicine specialists with OB-GYN physicians for pregnant and postpartum patients.

The initiative responds to data showing that maternal health and substance use issues are frequently treated in isolation. Dr. Kelly Dunn, the department’s chief of addiction medicine, noted that mental health and substance use conditions are more prevalent among pregnant mothers than many people realize. A recent study found that between 2021 and 2023, approximately one in seven pregnant women met the criteria for a substance use disorder in the prior year. Only one in ten of those women received treatment.

The program opened its doors a few months ago and has already treated 25 patients, according to Dr. Erin Brown, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at OSU Medicine. Patients can remain in the program for up to 12 months after giving birth. The clinic accepts referrals from OB-GYNs, primary care physicians, emergency departments, behavioral health professionals, and social service agencies.

Participants receive access to doulas, lactation specialists, and pediatricians. They also receive addiction treatment, which includes medications for opioid use disorder. Organizers stated that the program aims to provide comprehensive support that addresses both medical and social needs simultaneously.

The George Kaiser Family Foundation provided $100,000 to launch the clinic. Kimberly Butler, a senior program officer for the foundation, said the organization is willing to increase its financial commitment if the need grows. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols attended the program’s launch event on Tuesday afternoon. He said that healthcare systems should not force people facing addiction to navigate complex bureaucracies alone.

“Providing this level of care is a shared responsibility,” Nichols said. He added that resources should be available to mothers before they reach a crisis point. The mayor stated that increasing access to compassionate treatment could help save the lives of women and their children.

Organizers plan to expand the program’s reach beyond Tulsa by using telehealth to partner with rural hospitals. Jill Hughes, a program director with the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative, said the group recently launched a statewide initiative to improve care for patients with mental health and substance use disorders. She cited renewed national attention on maternal mental health as a driving force for this collaboration.

Recent data from the nonprofit Pregnancy Justice indicates that Oklahoma prosecutors initiated at least 222 criminal cases related to pregnancy and birth from June 2022 to 2025. Most of these cases involved allegations of substance use during pregnancy. Dr. Brown said she hopes the integrated care model will help Oklahoma Human Services view participants more favorably, reducing the burden on families navigating both medical and child welfare systems.