Current Scholars

 

Understanding the role of stress, sleep and pain on peripartum cannabis use 

Marie Hayes, Ph.D.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among pregnant and postpartum women and use is associated with negative outcomes for parent and baby. Roughly three quarters of women who achieve abstinence from cannabis during pregnancy relapse in the postpartum period. Despite high rates of relapse and negative health outcomes, no intervention exists to support postpartum women to abstain from cannabis use during a time marked by increased stress, pain, and sleep disturbance all of which are associated with cannabis use in non-perinatal populations. This study will collect qualitative data from patients and obstetric providers to inform intervention development to support women to maintain abstinence from cannabis use throughout the postpartum period.