Daschel J. Franz, MEd and Camille C. Cioffi, PhD
October 2021

There are opportunities on how to leverage syringe exchange programs to address unmet needs for women who inject drugs. Understanding the individual characteristics of female-identified syringe exchange clients (e.g. age, education, housing status, substance use, pregnancies) is critical to improving service access and delivery. This brief reports on a recent study in which 69 women who were syringe exchange clients completed a survey about adding needed services to SEPs. Clients reported that menstruation products are hard to access and greatly needed. Limited access to menstrual products increases health risks for vaginal and urinary tract infections, severe reproductive health conditions and toxic shock syndrome. Improving access to hygiene products at syringe exchange programs can improve health outcomes for women who inject drugs. 

Camille C. Cioffi, PhD and David S. Degarmo, PhD
March 2022

Involvement from the father with their children can improve the child’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes regardless of a father's income or whether they use substance. Research on parents’ involvement with their children related to substance use primarily focuses on mothers. This brief provides suggestions to adapt existing parenting interventions to focus on fathers and reviews nesting services where fathers may already receive services and ways these services can be improve the fathers’ ability to utilize services. Recommendations include ways to build individual capacity, relationships, and ways to improve access to coordinated services.

Miriam Clark, PhD, Jean Kjellstrand, PhD, and Kaycee Morgan, PhD
March 2022

Parenting while incarcerated can cause many challenges for raising children. It can be difficult for parents to reenter communities when they must deal with securing housing and a job, in addition to reconnecting with their children. This, combined with being a parent who suffers from substance misuse can make this transition period more difficult. This brief reports on a recent community needs assessment on how to best support parents with past or present substance use issues when they reenter the community after incarceration.

Jennifer L. DiPietro, Kristen L. Mackiewicz Seghete, Elizabeth E. Krans, Kasey Edwards Snider, Reina Bower, Kea Parker, Janie Gullickson, Alexandra S. Potter, Hugh Garavan, Tessa C. Vatalaro, Moriah E. Thomason, Elinor L. Sullivan and Alice M. Graham
April 2022

There is very limited research regarding the effects of opioid use during pregnancy on fetal and childhood development, despite increases of opioid use disorder and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. The Healthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD) will fill this gap by examining brain and behavioral development from birth through the first decade of life to help inform medical practice and health policy. Due to the size and complexity of this study, an 18-month planning phase was started at 28 sites across the nation. One part of the Phase I initiative involved the development of Stakeholder Advisory Committees to guide the next stage of research.

Elizabeth A. Stormshak, PhD, Jordan M. Matulis, MS, Whitney Nash, MA, and Yijun Cheng, MA
July 2022

Parents who experience substance misuse also have a great need for support to care for their children. Opioid misuse has risen over the past decade in the U.S., with over 10 million people having misused opioids. Subsequently, more children are living with substance misuse in the home as more parents are caring for their children while using substances. Parents who struggle with opioid misuse often also struggle with mental health concerns and parenting responsibilities, increasing the risk of child abuse and neglect. Additionally, children living with a parent with opioid misuse are more likely to grow up in a chaotic environment, including low monitoring and low parental support, which may negatively affect a child’s development and create later risk for engaging in risky behaviors. 

Ann-Marie Y. Barrett, Kavya R. Mudiam, and Philip A. Fisher
July 2022

Many people with substance use disorders are caregivers of young children who may require additional support that is designed according to their specific needs. Interventions that recognize the common experiences (both cognitively and behaviorally) that caregivers with substance use disorders have will be able to provide that tailored support. For many in this population, brain connections that are activated during stressful and rewarding experiences are influenced by both the act of caregiving and the use of psychoactive drugs not prescribed by a doctor. These shared connections can result in a reciprocal influence wherein addiction impacts caregiving behaviors and caregiving behaviors impact addiction.