Child Abuse and Neglect Laws Pertaining to Women with Opioid Use Disorder

Presenter

Sanjana Ravikumar

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Sarah Goff, Department of Health Promotion and Policy, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A91, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Background: The epidemic of drug misuse has been getting more devastating over time. Due to the risks associated with opioid use during pregnancy, many state laws attempt to deter use and/or mitigate its effects through punitive and supportive measures, including laws related to child abuse and neglect. A bill currently on the Massachusetts (MA) State floor aims to change the current law regarding prenatal substance to make it more supportive of women and birthing people.   

Objective: To describe variation in state laws related to opioid use during pregnancy, compare the current MA bill to other states' laws, and to understand the motivations for and anticipated effects of the change.

Methods: Policy analysis will include assigning scores to state policy related to use of opioids and other illicit substances during pregnancy based on the presence of punitive and/or supportive measures. I will then determine whether those scores are associated with trends in state-level characteristics, such as median income and geographical region. I will meet with Massachusetts legislators connected to the bill to better understand motivations for drafting the bills, desired outcomes and plans for implementation.   

Results: Data collection is ongoing and is predicted to be completed in April. Preliminary results indicate the following: 1) As of 2020, most states indicate variation in the mix of punitive and supportive measures in state laws but has shown an increase in  punitive elements over time; 2) Since the end of the COVID-19 lockdown, many states have introduced bills aimed at creating more supportive measures in their state laws. The effects of these measures on state-level characteristics are yet to be determined.  

Keywords

pregnancy, opioid use disorder (OUD), child abuse/neglect policy, prenatal substance use

Research Area

Health Policy and Management

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