2025 Perinatal Substance Use

Understanding the Legal Environment Cradling Alcohol Use During the Perinatal Period

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are a preventable group of developmental conditions caused by in utero exposure to alcohol due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Wisconsin's culture of heavy and frequent drinking and permissive legal environment towards alcohol use increases the risk that women may consume alcohol at the time of conception, before they are aware that they are pregnant, and even throughout the pregnancy. Changes to local alcohol laws could reduce the risk of drinking by pregnant people. This presentation will follow a composite case study from drinking through pregnancy and childbirth and examine the public health consequences of how the legal environment relates to the use of alcohol during the perinatal period.

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Patrick Jones - Course author
Meet the instructors

Felice Borisy-Rudin, JD, PhD

Dr. Felice Borisy-Rudin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at MCW. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins and a JD from the University of Wisconsin. Her research examines the legal epidemiology of alcohol policy and its impact on public health in Wisconsin.

 

The speaker has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Bernestine Jeffers

Bernestine Jeffers is a Substance Use Disorder Project Strategist at the Center for Urban Population Health, UWM, bringing 30 years of behavioral health and policy experience. She develops training and resources for the SUD workforce and previously coordinated gender-specific and family-centered SUD programs at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.


The speaker has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*


Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:
  • Describe alcohol's health impact in Wisconsin.
  • Describe Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
  • Describe the legal environment for alcohol use.


Accreditation Statement

Continuing Medical Education

The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care is accredited by the Wisconsin Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care (WAPC) designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course Content

Planning Committee

No one in control of content has any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*

Course Information

This webinar was recorded on May 29, 2025.

The expiration date for this course is October 6, 2028.

*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients.