BMIP's Substance Dependency Project

Substance Use and Reproductive Justice among Black girls and Black Women in the State of Delaware.

This community initiative aims to elevate the voices of Black women in Delaware as they navigate the journey from active dependency to recovery. Black Mothers In Power (BMIP) is advocating for the state of Delaware to enhance support for Black girls and women dealing with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) at all stages of reproduction and parenting. Through the HEAP initiative, we aim to provide education and tailored programming to meet the needs of these women.

We began by interviewing eight Black women to capture their personal stories, which will inform our community-focused work. The HEAP team and board members then collaborated to create a strategic plan that addresses the need for improved access to reproductive and parenting resources for Black women during prevention, early intervention, and recovery from substance abuse. Based on the interviews and strategic plan, BMIP created a substance abuse workshop to education the community about the experiences of Black girls and women.