Understanding the Impact of State Laws on Prenatal Drug Use
Official title: CE24-012 - ASSESSING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOMES OF STATE PRENATAL DRUG USE LAWS
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11170370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how different state laws about drug use during pregnancy affect the health and well-being of pregnant people, new mothers, and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $350,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CE003689-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170370 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not directly involve patient participation but focuses on understanding the experiences of pregnant and postpartum people and their infants affected by state prenatal drug use laws.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not directly impacted by state laws concerning prenatal drug use may not see a direct benefit from this specific policy-focused research.
What this research studies
We want to understand how various state laws, such as those that define prenatal drug use as child maltreatment or require drug testing, influence outcomes for families. Our goal is to see if these laws lead to better health for mothers and infants, more engagement in treatment, or if they create challenges like increased family separation. We will also explore if these laws affect different racial and ethnic groups in unique ways. This work helps us learn which approaches best support families facing challenges with prenatal drug use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help states create more effective and supportive laws that improve health outcomes for pregnant people, new mothers, and their children, while also promoting family well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Evidence on the specific effects of these types of laws on overdose, treatment engagement, and healthcare use is currently limited, making this a novel and important area of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bandara, Sachini — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Bandara, Sachini
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OVAL: How laws about drug use in pregnancy affect pregnant and new mothers who use drugs
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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.