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Prenatal drug use criminalization and health system avoidance: Evidence from births in Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, 1989–2019

Author

Listed:
  • Bruzelius, Emilie
  • Prins, Seth J.
  • Bates, Lisa M.
  • Underhill, Kristen
  • Jarlenski, Marian
  • Martins, Silvia S.

Abstract

States are increasingly adopting legislation that explicitly criminalizes drug use during pregnancy. Evidence from Tennessee suggests such policies may lead to increases in health system avoidance, yet prior research has not explored this relationship in other contexts. We examined whether explicit criminalization policies in Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee were associated changes in prenatal care and facility-based delivery at the population-level.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruzelius, Emilie & Prins, Seth J. & Bates, Lisa M. & Underhill, Kristen & Jarlenski, Marian & Martins, Silvia S., 2025. "Prenatal drug use criminalization and health system avoidance: Evidence from births in Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, 1989–2019," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 387(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:387:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625010470
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118716
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    References listed on IDEAS

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