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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathryn Luchok, PhD, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-8519, luchok@gwm.sc.edu and Sarah Gareau, MEd, CHES, Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208.

Purpose: Conceptualize the political/health implications of policies affecting substance using women in South Carolina (SC). Background: Research establishes treatment as successful for substance using women. Treatment costs $1,800 to $6,800/year while incarceration costs $20,805/year. Pregnant or parenting women are especially stigmatized, and many clinicians have limited knowledge of women's antecedents to use and their barriers to care. Policies: SC has a punitive approach to substance use, leading the nation in arrests and convictions of pregnant women. Testing targets indigent women seeking public prenatal care services and is linked to strict consequences for women who test positive. Low income, minority women are disproportionately arrested despite similar rates of illicit drug use across ethnicities. Women suffering stillbirths can be charged with homicide if they used any time during their pregnancies. Any baby testing positive at birth, regardless of proof of harm, can result in child endangerment prosecution of the mother. A review of SC treatment concluded that women, particularly if pregnant, remain underserved. Minimal funding for treatment is being cut with stricter limitations on Medicaid reimbursement. Most women seeking treatment have issues of trauma or lack access; yet SC facilities lack domestic violence (63%), mental health (76%), and transportation (70%) services. Only 20% of SC's programs specialize in treating pregnant/parenting women, with limited bed space and restrictions on family accompaniment. Conclusion: SC's racially biased punitive policies are not protecting women or children. It is important to consider the consequences of such policies as other states look to SC as a model.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Articulate the health implications of punitive policies as applied to pregnant and parenting substance using women in SC.
• Describe how the application of these policies in SC reflect racial and income inequities.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Health Law

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation