NIH-Funded Study Aims to Reduce Cannabis Use During Pregnancy in Michigan

DETROIT — A new federally funded research effort is underway at Henry Ford Health to address rising cannabis use during pregnancy in Michigan, where an estimated 16% of individuals report use during pregnancy and lactation, according to a recent study in Addiction. The trend has raised concern among clinicians due to links between prenatal cannabis exposure and outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and increased NICU admissions.

Leading the effort is Alyssa Vanderziel, Ph.D., an assistant scientist with Henry Ford Health’s Center for Healthcare Improvement (CHI), who recently received a competitive five-year NIH K01 grant totaling nearly $1 million, awarded through the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership. Her research focuses on developing practical, patient-centered strategies to help reduce cannabis use during pregnancy — an issue that experts say is still not consistently addressed in routine prenatal care.

“Many patients don’t view cannabis as harmful, particularly when they’re using it to manage symptoms like nausea, stress, or pain,” Vanderziel said. “That makes it especially important to offer support that is both evidence-based and aligned with patients’ lived experiences.”

The project will develop and test a digital intervention that combines electronic screening and brief intervention (eSBI) with tailored text messaging. eSBI is an evidence-based approach that uses motivational interviewing techniques to encourage behavior change in a nonjudgmental, patient-centered way — particularly effective during “teachable moments” such as pregnancy.

A distinctive aspect of the study is its emphasis on co-design. Pregnant and/or postpartum patients with experience using cannabis in pregnancy will serve on an advisory committee and play an active role in shaping the intervention, helping ensure the tool is relevant, acceptable, and actionable. Researchers will first conduct an open trial to evaluate usability and acceptability, followed by a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess feasibility.

The long-term goal is to build a scalable intervention that can be integrated into prenatal care and help reduce risks for both mothers and infants. Vanderziel’s work also positions her to pursue a larger, fully powered efficacy trial prior to implementation to expand its impact.

“This is about closing the gap between what we know and what we do in practice,” she said. “We have an opportunity to better support patients during a critical window for lifelong health.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: mediarelations@hfhs.org