This second Listening Session continues our exploration of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in special populations, shifting the lens to the full lifespan. Building upon Part 1’s focus on youth and Tribal communities, Part 2 will examine the intergenerational and biological effects of opioid exposure from the womb through later life stages. Panelists will include a speech-language pathologist and lactation consultant working with opioid-exposed infants in neonatal care, a nutritionist exploring how OUD affects metabolism and nourishment, a biomedical engineer sharing technological approaches for assessing long-term developmental impact, and a gerontological expert addressing OUD in older adults.

Participants will engage in reflective and solution-oriented dialogue, addressing how biologically and socially mediated exposure to opioids shapes physical health, neurodevelopment, communication, and nutritional needs throughout life. Special attention will be given to underrepresented groups, such as neonates born with NAS (neonatal abstinence syndrome), and elders with chronic pain, comorbidities, or long-term prescription opioid use.

This Listening Session supports national injury prevention goals and health equity initiatives by bridging narrative accounts, clinical observations, and systems-level insights to improve the responsiveness of behavioral health models across developmental stages.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the long-term developmental and communicative effects of in-utero opioid exposure, including feeding, bonding, and neurobehavioral concerns.

• Explain the connection between nutritional status, opioid use, and recovery outcomes, including vulnerabilities in both youth and aging populations.

• Integrate lived and clinical experiences to inform developmentally sensitive, lifespan-informed, and equity-driven OUD intervention strategies.

Moderator:

Bianca D. McCall, LMFT is a retired professional women’s basketball player. She is an international TED Speaker, and renowned mental health researcher and expert. Bianca is a licensed clinical therapist, with 25 years in Behavioral Health, and 12 years as a Healthcare CEO. In recent years, she has grown significantly in the digital health space, and created a first-of-its-kind social-emotional platform, designed to improve human health span.

For more than a decade, her work and research has been dedicated to psychological (mental) injury prevention and the discovery of innovations addressing existential isolation. Bianca is passionate about leading projects which promote ongoing research in mental injury prevention, integration of technologies, data analytics, and the discovery of culturally and linguistically responsive crisis interventions. Bianca represents Nevada, on national committees and namely the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; designated by SAMHSA, and Steering Committee for the U.S. Department of Public Health and is a contributor to the National Strategies for Suicide Prevention in areas of Clinical Education, Provider Standards, and Technology. Bianca is a subject matter expert, a curriculum developer, and instructor in higher education with the Centers for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), Region 9, housed at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Panelists: 

• Anne R. Lindsay, PhD, FACSM
  Dr. Lindsay is a Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Nevada Reno. She conducts research, assesses, identifies, and responds to public and behavioral health issues across the lifespan. She has conducted interdisciplinary health-related research approaches to help individuals in recovery with a focus on resilience and evidence-based programming addressing poor nutrition, eating pathology, physical inactivity, and body dissatisfaction to augment existing treatment for substance use in prisons and recovery centers. She serves as expert panel for the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance project and conducts clinical trainings for the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies and Addiction Technology Transfer Center Networks. Dr. Lindsay has published several peer reviewed journal articles, fact sheets and creative audio-visual projects. A fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, she serves on numerous local/national committees, advisory boards and editorial panels; and has received several awards for her work.

• Amy Thatcher, SLP
  A passionate educator and advocate, Amy speaks on topics including neonatal feeding therapy, caregiver empowerment, and interdisciplinary collaboration in hospital settings. She is a member of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists. Amy is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist and neonatal feeding specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience supporting medically fragile infants, including those born with opiate exposure. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she brings a rare blend of clinical precision, compassionate care, and leadership to her work in hospital-based neonatal therapy. Holding a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of New Mexico, Amy has dedicated her career to advancing feeding outcomes for newborns with complex medical and neurological needs. Her expertise spans oral motor assessments, swallow evaluations, and individualized feeding interventions, with a specialized focus on infants affected by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Amy’s work is grounded in the belief that healing begins with connection—and that every infant and their family deserves a strong start supported by informed, compassionate care.

• Eboni January, MD, FACOG
  Dr. Eboni January (Dr. EJ) is a board-certified OB/GYN, health equity advocate, and business visionary—who believes that real change happens when we combine expertise with intentional action. Dr. Eboni January’s mission is to improve maternal health outcomes by blending medical expertise with cultural awareness, advocacy, and education. Her vision is to ensure that every mother—regardless of background or circumstance—has the knowledge, confidence, and community she deserves to experience a healthy, informed, and empowered motherhood journey.

• Rachel Mack, LMSW, LADC
  Rachel Mack is the Program Director of the EMPOWERED Program, which serves pregnant and postpartum individuals who use or have used opioids and/or stimulants. A licensed social worker and licensed alcohol and drug counselor, Rachel specializes in trauma-informed, family-centered care for people affected by substance use. With a master’s degree in social work, she has led multidisciplinary efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, reduce stigma, and expand access to recovery-oriented care. Rachel currently serves on the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Board and previously contributed to the Nevada Congenital Syphilis Case Review Team. She is passionate about advancing equitable, evidence-based approaches that center dignity, compassion, and health equity for birthing people impacted by opioid and stimulant use.

Continuing Education Units: 2 CEUs

This training is approved for continuing education by the boards listed here.

This training is also approved by the Nevada Certification Board for the following certifications:

• PRSS(-S)

• Community Health Workers (CHW)

• Doulas

Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.