About

Lauren Micalizzi is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University’s School of Public Health. She earned her PhD in Developmental Science from Boston University in 2016 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies in 2019. Her research program bridges developmental science and addiction science, with a focus on the parent-child dyad during the perinatal stage and adolescence. She studies how parental substance use and mental health influence parenting, parent-child relationship quality, and children’s socioemotional and behavioral development. Her work investigates the intergenerational transmission of risk across families and identifies protective processes to support healthier developmental trajectories. A central area of her research is understanding and addressing perinatal substance use, including studies on the etiology and treatment of prenatal cannabis, tobacco, and polysubstance use, as well as the long-term developmental implications for children.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Medical emergency
• Obstetrics
• Psychology
• Chemistry
• Environmental health
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• Longitudinal trends in the past 30-day co-use of nicotine/tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis among youth and adults in the PATH study

  Addictive Behaviors · 2026-02-04

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: The co-use of substances confers risks above single-product use and has significant public health implications. This study investigated trends in past 30-day co-use of nicotine/tobacco products with alcohol and cannabis in the US using Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data from Waves 4-6 (December 2016-November 2021). METHODS: All wave 4-6 PATH participants age 15+ were included in analyses. Changes across wave in past 30-day co-use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products (OTP; cigars, filtered cigars, smokeless, hookah, snus, and cigarillo) with alcohol and cannabis, moderated by age (15-17,18-24, 25-34,35-64, 65+), and controlling for demographics were investigated. RESULTS: Changes in co-use of tobacco products with cannabis and alcohol varied across age and product. Cigarette and alcohol co-use was most prevalent across all adult ages, with rates declining over time among young adults (18-24, 25-34) but stable in older adults (65+). Rates of e-cigarette and alcohol co-use increased among young adults, possibly supplanting alcohol and cigarette co-use. E-cigarette and alcohol co-use was the most popular pattern of co-use in youth, with initially increasing and then declining prevalence. Co-use of e-cigarette and cannabis increased at Wave 5 among those 15-17, 18-24, and 25-34, although this increase lessened in all groups except those age 25-34 at Wave 6. Cigarette and cannabis co-use rates, and co-use rates of OTP with both cannabis and alcohol were generally stable or decreasing. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the complex interplay between substance use patterns and developmental stages and the dynamic nature of co-use in ever-evolving tobacco and cannabis marketplaces.

  PublisherDOI

• Intentions and Motives for Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Preliminary Daily Diary Findings on Planned and Unplanned Use

  Cannabis · 2026-03-31

  articleOpen access

  Objective: Perinatal cannabis use is a significant public health concern linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Despite growing evidence of prenatal cannabis use (PCU) risks, many individuals use it to manage symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, or pain. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) identifies intentions as key predictors of substance use. While intentions and use patterns have been well studied in non-pregnant populations, research on prenatal intentions for cannabis use is limited. This pilot ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examines: (a) cannabis use and non-use days in terms of intentions and use; (b) associations between daily intentions and use across prenatal and postpartum; and (c) motives linked to planned versus unplanned use. Method: Pregnant participants (N = 20; Mage = 30.15) reporting current prenatal CU completed two 14-day EMA bursts (in pregnancy and at 6-weeks postpartum) tracking daily CU, motives, and intentions. Planned use days were coded based on morning endorsement of intention to use, followed by reported use; unplanned use days were coded based on no morning intention, followed by reported use. Results: Planned use was most common both in pregnancy and postpartum, followed by planned nonuse, unplanned use, and foregoing plans to use. Intentions strongly predicted daily cannabis use (OR = 5.78, p < .001), with no significant difference between pregnancy and postpartum. Common motives across both planned and unplanned days included relaxation, pain relief, and sleep improvement. Some motives, including appetite increase and anxiety reduction, were more frequent on planned days, while enhancement motives were more common on unplanned days. Conclusions: Findings support TPB’s relevance to perinatal cannabis use, highlighting distinct motives for planned versus unplanned use. Larger samples are needed to expand these insights.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Online conversations on perceived stigma among pregnant individuals who use cannabis

  Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports · 2025-06-18

  articleOpen access

  Perinatal cannabis use (PCU) is a controversial topic, as it is associated with negative neonatal and maternal outcomes. However, PCU persists, often reported in the context of perceived symptom management, and those who engage in PCU can face significant stigma. Such stigma can deter individuals from discussing their cannabis use with support persons, potentially exacerbating negative health outcomes for the parent and child. The current study explores how PCU stigma manifests and is navigated in online communities, focusing on discussions within an online space for individuals who use cannabis during pregnancy. First, a random sample of 10 threads per month from June 2020 to May 2021 were extracted from a cannabis-focused forum on a pregnancy and parenting website. Next, analyses involved a two-cycle coding process (i.e., topical followed by conceptual) to identify key themes surrounding stigma in the context of PCU. Three primary themes were identified: 1) experiencing stigma (e.g., familial and societal sources of judgment, emotional responses such as guilt and frustration); 2) contradictions in substance stigma, highlighting the contrast between societal attitudes and expectations towards cannabis versus alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy; and 3) challenging stigma, in which participants actively provide support, share personal experiences, and offer evidence to counteract stigma. Online communities may play a critical role in combating stigma, offering a platform for connection, support, and education. Results emphasize that a nonjudgmental approach to information dissemination may be more effective. Understanding stigma is essential for developing effective interventions and reducing the harms of PCU. • Perinatal cannabis use is increasing, despite known risks to parent and child health. • Stigma around perinatal cannabis use affects access to care and support networks. • Qualitative analysis of online forum with two-cycle coding to identify stigma themes. • Users report stigma from society and peers, reporting guilt and frustration. • Contradictions emerge between societal views on cannabis vs. alcohol/tobacco use.

  PublisherDOI

• Rethinking E-Cigarette Flavor Policy: Can We Reduce Harm for Adults Without Inviting Youth Use?

  Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · 2025-05-15

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Perinatal Cannabis Use, Depression, and the Mother-Child Dyad: Protocol for a Prospective Multimethod Study (Preprint)

  2025-01-23

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Postpartum depression (PPD) rates in the United States are among the highest globally, and PPD can pose significant, long-term risks to families. Concurrently, perinatal cannabis use is increasing in prevalence and may exacerbate PPD. Although evidence links cannabis use with PPD, little is known about its impact on immediate depressive symptoms or depression trajectories across the perinatal period. Moreover, the potential impact of cannabis use on mother-child attachment, bonding, and emotional availability could intensify the effects of cannabis on PPD. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This protocol study is a longitudinal investigation aimed at detecting initial signals of the daily and long-term associations between cannabis use, PPD symptoms, and the mother-infant relationship. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> Participants (N=20) were individuals carrying a singleton pregnancy who reported using cannabis at least twice weekly. Recruitment was through community outreach and online advertisements. Study participation began with a baseline laboratory assessment during pregnancy, which included surveys on mental health and substance use. Follow-ups were conducted virtually at 6 weeks post partum and in the laboratory at 6 months post partum and included additional surveys on infant development, aspects of the mother-infant relationship (eg, attachment), as well as behavioral interaction tasks. Each assessment was paired with a 2-week ecological momentary assessment burst, resulting in three bursts. To support retention, brief check-in visits were completed during the second and third trimesters (depending on gestational age at enrollment), and a postdelivery phone call was conducted within 2 weeks of delivery. A 2-level linear mixed-effect models will be used to examine both event-level and person-level associations of cannabis use with momentary negative affect, PPD symptoms, and attachment, bonding, and emotional availability. Interaction models will test whether these characteristics of the mother-child relationship intensify the association between cannabis use and PPD symptoms. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> This project received institutional review board approval on December 19, 2022, and was awarded funding on February 1, 2023. The recruitment goal of 20 participants was reached on September 4, 2024. Recruitment challenges were encountered early in the study, leading to successful adaptations in recruitment and data collection protocols. Follow-up data collection is ongoing, with completion expected by October 2025 and results anticipated by April 2026. Retention rates approach 100% at follow-up, and ecological momentary assessment compliance rates exceed those observed in nonpregnant samples (ie, &amp;gt;80%). </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> This protocol study demonstrates our ability to collect momentary and longitudinal data to examine the daily and cumulative impact of cannabis use on PPD and the mother-infant relationship. These data are well-positioned to provide preliminary evidence on how cannabis use may shape depressive symptoms during a particularly high-risk period for maternal mental health. The findings will inform a larger-scale study and advance understanding of the potential effects of cannabis use on perinatal mental health. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> <p/> </sec> <sec> <title>INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT</title> DERR1-10.2196/71302 </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• Perinatal Cannabis Use, Depression, and the Mother-Child Dyad: Protocol for a Prospective Multimethod Study

  JMIR Research Protocols · 2025-10-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) rates in the United States are among the highest globally, and PPD can pose significant, long-term risks to families. Concurrently, perinatal cannabis use is increasing in prevalence and may exacerbate PPD. Although evidence links cannabis use with PPD, little is known about its impact on immediate depressive symptoms or depression trajectories across the perinatal period. Moreover, the potential impact of cannabis use on mother-child attachment, bonding, and emotional availability could intensify the effects of cannabis on PPD. OBJECTIVE: This protocol study is a longitudinal investigation aimed at detecting initial signals of the daily and long-term associations between cannabis use, PPD symptoms, and the mother-infant relationship. METHODS: Participants (N=20) were individuals carrying a singleton pregnancy who reported using cannabis at least twice weekly. Recruitment was through community outreach and online advertisements. Study participation began with a baseline laboratory assessment during pregnancy, which included surveys on mental health and substance use. Follow-ups were conducted virtually at 6 weeks post partum and in the laboratory at 6 months post partum and included additional surveys on infant development, aspects of the mother-infant relationship (eg, attachment), as well as behavioral interaction tasks. Each assessment was paired with a 2-week ecological momentary assessment burst, resulting in three bursts. To support retention, brief check-in visits were completed during the second and third trimesters (depending on gestational age at enrollment), and a postdelivery phone call was conducted within 2 weeks of delivery. A 2-level linear mixed-effect models will be used to examine both event-level and person-level associations of cannabis use with momentary negative affect, PPD symptoms, and attachment, bonding, and emotional availability. Interaction models will test whether these characteristics of the mother-child relationship intensify the association between cannabis use and PPD symptoms. RESULTS: This project received institutional review board approval on December 19, 2022, and was awarded funding on February 1, 2023. The recruitment goal of 20 participants was reached on September 4, 2024. Recruitment challenges were encountered early in the study, leading to successful adaptations in recruitment and data collection protocols. Follow-up data collection is ongoing, with completion expected by October 2025 and results anticipated by April 2026. Retention rates approach 100% at follow-up, and ecological momentary assessment compliance rates exceed those observed in nonpregnant samples (ie, >80%). CONCLUSIONS: This protocol study demonstrates our ability to collect momentary and longitudinal data to examine the daily and cumulative impact of cannabis use on PPD and the mother-infant relationship. These data are well-positioned to provide preliminary evidence on how cannabis use may shape depressive symptoms during a particularly high-risk period for maternal mental health. The findings will inform a larger-scale study and advance understanding of the potential effects of cannabis use on perinatal mental health. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/71302.

  PublisherDOI

• Is Parental Monitoring Associated With Behavioural Health Services Utilization for Juvenile Legal System‐Involved Youth?

  Child & Family Social Work · 2025-08-04

  article

  ABSTRACT The present study sought to examine whether aspects of parental monitoring were associated with the use of any behavioural health supports and the types of supports used among youth with juvenile legal system (JLS) involvement. JLS‐involved youth have high rates of behavioural health concerns, and their parents are typically tasked with accessing supports for these concerns. Parental monitoring may play a key role in helping parents recognize the need for and subsequently access supports for their child; yet, the relationship between parental monitoring and behavioural health supports utilization is not well understood. A cross‐sectional sample of caregivers of JLS‐involved youth ( N = 161) recruited through a juvenile court completed measures regarding parental monitoring and behavioural health supports utilization. Descriptive statistics, logistic regressions, and hurdle models were employed to assess the association between parental monitoring and use of supports. The overall rate of services utilization was higher than in other studies of JLS‐involved youth and was largely driven by the use of non‐professional supports. Parental solicitation represented the most robust parental monitoring factor associated with services utilization and was positively associated with the use of any services, the number of services used, and several types of service use.

  PublisherDOI

• Birth order moderates the association between adverse childhood experiences and externalizing behavior symptoms in adolescence

  Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · 2024-09-26 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Abstracts from the 2024 Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Marijuana July 19th-21st, 2024

  Cannabis · 2024-09-06

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Tailoring opioid use prevention content for juvenile diversion programs with adolescents and their caregivers

  Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment · 2024-07-31 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Prenatal Tobacco Exposure: Self-Regulatory Pathways to Externalizing Behaviors

  NIH · $905k · 2020–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Sarah A. Thomas

  Brown University

  47 shared

• Leslie A. Brick

  39 shared

• Anthony Spirito

  Providence College

  38 shared

• Rachel L. Gunn

  Brown University

  29 shared

• Jennifer C. Wolff

  Brown University

  26 shared

• Samuel N. Meisel

  26 shared

• Alexander W. Sokolovsky

  John Brown University

  23 shared

• Kristina M. Jackson

  Pacific Institute For Research and Evaluation

  20 shared

Labs

• Micalizzi LabPI

Education

• Ph.D., Developmental Science

  Boston University

  2016

• Other

  Brown’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

  2019

Awards & honors

• Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies Re…