University of Utah Health Celebrates Opening of New Substance Use and Pregnancy Clinic
Media Contact:
Jerilyn Stowe
Director, Communications, PR, & Community Impact
Jerilyn.Stowe@hsc.utah.edu
March 20, 2025 – Today, University of Utah Health announced the opening of a new Substance Use & Pregnancy—Recovery, Addiction, and Dependence (SUPeRAD) Clinic location at the Population Health Center near Rose Park. This expansion is a significant milestone in addressing substance use disorders among pregnant individuals in Utah’s westside communities.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from health care professionals, legislators, and Kelsie Buchanan, a SUPeRAD patient who shared her personal journey through recovery.
"Becoming pregnant didn't initially get me out of my addiction and an abusive relationship, but it brought me to the SUPeRAD Clinic at the University of Utah," Buchanan shared. "They showed me I was worth saving. I kept showing up and relapsing again and again, and they never gave up on me. I got sober at four months pregnant and have been clean ever since."
Since its founding in 2017, the SUPeRAD Clinic has pioneered an integrated, trauma-informed care model combining maternal-fetal medicine, addiction treatment, social work, and recovery support. With this expansion, the clinic is poised to serve more families in the Rose Park and West Valley areas, providing vital services to individuals who may have otherwise faced barriers to care.
"This new clinic is a vital extension of our mission to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to mothers and families facing the dual challenges of substance use disorder and pregnancy," said Marcela Smid, MD, MS, MA, SUPeRAD Clinic medical director. "We believe that meeting patients where they are literally and figuratively empowers them to feel safe engaging in care, which leads to improved health outcomes."
The new clinic builds upon the success of the original SUPeRAD programs, which have supported over 1,300 mother-baby pairs to date. In 2024, the Utah State Legislature appropriated $360,000 in start-up funds to further support this expansion of integrated, perinatal addiction care.
Proven Impact and Cost Savings
The integrated care model has yielded impressive results, including:
- Increased participation in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
- Shortened neonatal hospital stays
- Reduced need for neonatal intensive care
- Higher postpartum visit attendance
- Fewer postpartum hospital admissions
These improvements have not only saved lives but also significantly reduced Medicaid expenses, saving millions of dollars annually.
Critical Services for a Vulnerable Population
In Utah, substance use disorder is a leading contributor to maternal deaths, with drug-related accidents accounting for 25% of maternal deaths. Other leading causes include suicide (20%), obstetric complications (17.5%), and other medical conditions (15%).
The SUPeRAD Clinic provides comprehensive services such as:
- Integrated prenatal, mental health, and addiction care
- Peer recovery support and coaching
- Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome education
- Specialized pediatric and pain management consultations
- Care coordination with other treatment programs and providers
New Clinic Location
The new SUPeRAD Clinic is located at the Population Health Center at 168 N 1950 W, Suite 104, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116. Other SUPeRAD locations include the Ambulatory Care Center at University of Utah Hospital and the South Jordan Health Center.
