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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3254.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #101059

Alcohol and pregnancy: Implications of laws across the 50 States

Sue Thomas, PhD, Carol Cannon, MA, and Lisa Rickert. Center for the Study of Law and Enforcement Policy, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 6062 Graham Hill Road, Suite B, Felton, CA 95018, 831.335.1000, ccannon@pire.org

This proposed paper will analyze data from the Alcohol Policy Information System on alcohol and pregnancy to explore policy patterns and policy consistency across the nation as of January 1, 2004 on policy six policy topics including Mandatory Warning Signs, Civil Commitment of Pregnant Women who Use or Abuse Alcohol, Limitation on Criminal Prosecution of Pregnant Women, Priority Treatment for Pregnant Women, Reporting Requirements, and Referral to Child Welfare agencies of Pregnant Women who Use or Abuse Alcohol. The following questions will be addressed:

• How many jurisdictions have enacted policy to address issues of alcohol and pregnancy? • What type of policy predominates across jurisdictions? Have they enacted a greater or lesser proportion of public health alcohol and pregnancy policies than punitive ones? • Are jurisdictions sending mixed messages to pregnant women with respect to alcohol and pregnancy policy, or are they formulating a single approach to the topic?

These questions are important from a public health perspective because the incidence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders has risen over time and because the type of policy response conditions women's use of medical care.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Pregnancy, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Preventing Alcohol-Related Problems through Effective Policies

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA