Understanding use of multiple substances during pregnancy
A Mixed Methods Exploration of Prenatal Polysubstance Use
This project talks with pregnant and postpartum people who used more than one substance and analyzes national pregnancy survey data to learn common patterns and risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260183 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will conduct 20 interviews with pregnant or recently postpartum people who used multiple substances during pregnancy to hear about their experiences and behaviors. They will also analyze CDC PRAMS, a large national pregnancy survey, to map current patterns of prenatal polysubstance use across the U.S. Findings from interviews and the survey will be compared to give a fuller picture of how substance combinations, places, and environments relate to use. The combined approach aims to identify real-world patterns that could guide support and prevention efforts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant or recently postpartum people who used two or more substances during pregnancy and are willing to be interviewed about their experiences.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those who used only a single substance during pregnancy, are less likely to benefit directly from participation in this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help shape better outreach, prevention, and support for pregnant people who use multiple substances and inform policies to reduce harm to mothers and babies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links single-substance prenatal use with environmental factors, but focused mixed-methods work on prenatal polysubstance patterns is limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eglovitch, Michelle — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Eglovitch, Michelle
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 below.