Dr. Cara Poland: A National Voice for Mothers, Compassion, and the Fight for Better Addiction Care

This week on The Zac Clark Show, we’re joined by Dr. Cara Poland—an addiction medicine physician, educator, and national policy leader who’s been on the front lines of treating substance use disorder with science, compassion, and urgency. Dr. Poland works across every level of the system: running a clinic that supports pregnant and parenting people, training the next generation of doctors, and advising lawmakers on how to use opioid settlement funds to actually save lives.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover:

• Why the language we use—addict vs. person with substance use disorder—can change how someone is treated, even by doctors
  

• The role of medication in stabilizing the brain so recovery can begin
  

• What actually works when supporting pregnant women with substance use disorder
  

• The staggering lack of addiction training in medical schools—and how that’s changing
  

• How stigma shows up everywhere—from hospitals to insurance companies to families—and what we can do about it
  

• The story of Dr. Poland’s brother, whose death fuels her work every day

Whether you're in recovery, love someone who is, or just want to understand how we can do better as a society, this episode is for you. It’s about meeting people where they are, staying alive long enough to heal, and building a future where addiction is treated like the medical condition it is.

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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:

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