Struggling to break free of substance use’s control of her life, Kirsten Puccio tried numerous programs and meetings, but none were the right fit.

But as a woman and a mom, Puccio found she wasn’t alone.

“The need is huge,” Puccio said. “The resources are so limited, especially for women and moms in recovery.”

Women who faced obstacles, and lack of adequate services, are now joining forces to fill the gap and advocate for more support.

With these goals in mind, Puccio and Keri McCallum facilitate a support group, M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Mamas (Mothers in Recovery for Change, Leadership and Empowerment), that meets 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Everyday Miracles Peer Recovery Support Center at 25 Pleasant St. in Worcester. It is run during the Women’s Space at the center, a block of time from 8:30 to 11 a.m. when only women are present in the facility.

“It was fate that me and Kirsten met, because our passions aligned,” McCallum said.

A movement begins

They sent an email blast for their first meeting in September, wondering if anyone would show up. They were “blown away,” Puccio said, with the outpouring of support and women who attended. Since then, they’ve been talking to other recovery centers about running meetings in more locations.

“It’s really turning into something great,” Puccio said. “When you’re trying to grow and be a better person, it comes to a point where you want more. As you grow, things change, circumstances change. I felt I definitely needed a place that was going to up my recovery game.”

The meetings follow an all-recovery format. “All-recovery is an alternative approach to your traditional 12-step meetings where people are accepted for whatever stage or pathway of recovery they are on,” Puccio said. “All recovery is full of acceptance, forgiveness, healing and living in the solution, not the problem.”

Although they’re passionate about helping moms in recovery, all women are welcome. “We want people to feel like they belong no matter what they’re recovering from. I feel like everyone is recovering from something,” said Puccio, who works as a recovery coach at Advocates, a multiservice agency with a main office in Framingham. “We’re here to support each other and lift each other up.”

‘I look at life as learning’

Roberta Nelson lives by that idea and appreciates the time she spends at the meetings.

“I’m learning from different people’s stories, and it’s important for me. I look at life as learning. M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Mamas has helped me understand I’m not alone,” said Nelson, who is in recovery from alcohol use and who founded Life Changes, a motivational mobile workshop. “I want to help as many people as I can. No matter what you go through, you can always start over.”

M.I.R.A.C.L.E. Mamas aims to end misconceptions regarding substance use disorder and recovery, particularly stigmas surrounding women, especially mothers. “Being a mom is difficult. Being a mom in recovery is a little more challenging at times,” Puccio said.

Child care, transportation, among needs

Puccio and McCallum said women face barriers inclduing fewer programs tailored to them, accessibility and transportation issues, and family life. Many who consider seeking treatment worry who will watch their children, or if it will prompt involvement from the Department of Children and Families. McCallum said, “If you’re pregnant, it’s very difficult to find a place to go.”

McCallum knows that experience firsthand from a visit to a detox center. “I was in my johnnies and everything,” McCallum recalled. When a routine pregnancy test was positive, McCallum was told she couldn’t stay, and needed to find somewhere else on her own.

“Someone is relying on this woman for something, whether it’s your husband, your kids, your partner. You’re supposed to take care of everyone,” McCallum said. Because women are often seen as caregivers, McCallum said society’s attitude is often “How dare you not be able to take care of yourself? How dare you use drugs while you’re a mom?”

Invisible crisis: Pregnancy and substance use

McCallum eventually found the Karen W. Green Clinic for Pregnancy and Recovery at UMass Memorial Medical Center, where she now works as a recovery coach. Puccio was also a patient there, although not at the same time at McCallum; it was through a mutual contact at the clinic that the two later connected paths.

Part of the medical center’s Community Women’s Care, the clinic was founded in 2015 by Dr. Katherine Callaghan, was named for her mentor, Dr. Karen W. Green, and is located at the medical center’s Memorial Campus.

“She was the first person I saw take a medical approach to addiction,” said Callaghan, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, but became board-certified in addiction medicine after becoming interested while working as a resident.

The clinic is open for just 12 appointments on Thursday mornings – “we’re always overbooked,” Callaghan said – and sees about 125 to 150 patients a year. Some come weekly, and some come just once. The clinic helps women who are substance-dependent or substance-using manage their care during pregnancy and postpartum times.

About 85% of the clinic’s population is for opioid use disorder, although some are struggling with alcohol, marijuana or other substance use, Callaghan said. On staff, in addition to herself, are another doctor, a psychiatrist, a resident nurse practitioner and a social worker. “We help our patients meet their goals. If they want to parent, we want them to parent. If they want a different plan, we help them with that.”

Making women’s health a priority

Callaghan said there is more work to be done to undo the stigmas. As to why, Callaghan said, “It’s probably the same reason why women’s cancers are underfunded and underresearched. Women’s health is not prioritized. Unfortunately, when it comes to pregnancy, that’s really tragic. The woman tends to be the center of the family, and if she’s not healthy, it’s hard to have a healthy family.”

Callaghan said, “If you’re a pregnant woman, it’s hard to find help with addiction. It’s an awfully isolating state, and there’s no reason it should be. Women can be persecuted if they’re pregnant and seeking help. It’s just awful.”

Although there are programs such as the Karen W. Green Clinic, there could and should be more, said Bridget DelRio, community outreach coordinator at Everyday Miracles, who helps facilititate the Women’s Space on Wednesday mornings.

Shame can keep someone ‘in active addiction’

DelRio said the shame associated with substance use is even more so when children are involved. “That’s enough to keep someone in active addiction. Everything is against us, especially when we have children.”

There’s a need not only for more women’s programming but also for spaces where their children can be accommodated, DelRio said.