Substance Use, Maternal Behavior, and Racial Inequities in Perinatal Health

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

This session has four papers that examine how health policy, substance regulation, and provider discretion intersect to shape maternal and infant health outcomes. The first paper analyzes how changes to state-level mandatory reporting laws affect racial disparities in maternal and infant drug testing, leveraging EMR data and quasi-random provider assignment to decompose structural and discretionary sources of disparity. The second paper investigates how the rapid expansion of marijuana dispensaries has affected breastfeeding behaviors, finding reduced breastfeeding rates in areas with greater dispensary access, especially recreational outlets. Their findings suggest that legal access—not just legal status—has implications for maternal decision-making and infant nutrition. The third paper assesses the long-term effects of historical alcohol tax policy on adult prenatal drinking behavior, exploring how exposure to fiscal policies in-utero may influence health behavior across generations. The fourth paper identifies delats in accessing pediatric care for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Policy Area

• Health Policy

Chair

• Melanie Guldi, University of Central Florida

Discussant

• James Flynn, Miami University

Organizer

• Mallory Dreyer, Indiana University

Individual Presentations

• Racial Disparities in Infant and Maternal Drug Testing - Presenting Author: Cydney Marie McGuire, Indiana University

• Weeding Out Breastfeeding? Evidence from the Expansion of Marijuana Dispensaries and Marijuana Laws - Presenting Author: Arjun Teotia, Henry Ford Health System

• The Long-term Impact of In-Utero Alcohol Taxes on Adult Prenatal Drinking - Presenting Author: Raka Datta, Georgia State University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: GODWIN AIPOH, Georgia State University

• The Effect of E-Cigarette Use on Smoking-Related Disparities in the US - Presenting Author: James E Prieger, Pepperdine University