Understanding drug use and overdose risks among Black pregnant and postpartum women
Official title: OVAL: Overdoses Among Black pregnant/Postpartum People and Laws Governing Drug Use in Pregnancy: A Mixed-Methods Project to Support Mobilization
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-10908716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at the struggles that Black women face during and after pregnancy when they use drugs, especially how laws about drug use can affect their health and access to care, with the hope of finding ways to improve support and resources for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | March 21, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $705,132 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HD113292-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are Black pregnant or postpartum women who have experienced drug use and are affected by the current legal landscape surrounding drug use in pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Black or who are not pregnant or postpartum may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges faced by Black pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs, focusing on the intersection of maternal mortality, overdose rates, and discrimination. It employs a mixed-methods approach to gather qualitative and quantitative data on how laws governing drug use in pregnancy affect these women's health and access to care. By examining both punitive and supportive legislative measures, the research aims to highlight the impact of these laws on health outcomes and service utilization. The goal is to mobilize resources and inform policy changes that better support this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and support systems for Black pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some research on maternal health and drug use, this specific focus on Black pregnant and postpartum women in the context of legal implications is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Hannah Lf — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Hannah Lf
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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OVAL: How laws about drug use in pregnancy affect pregnant and new mothers who use drugs
A nationwide project is looking at how laws about drug use in pregnancy influence health for pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs.
-
Overdoses in pregnancy and postpartum: how laws about drug use affect care
This project looks at how state laws about drug use during pregnancy affect overdose risk and access to treatment for pregnant and new mothers who use drugs.
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LA-MOM: Long-Acting HIV ART in Pregnancy and After Birth
This study follows pregnant people with HIV who receive long-acting injectable HIV medicines to understand how the drugs behave in the body, how they reach the baby, and what patients experience during pregnancy and after birth.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.