Perinatal Substance Use Disclosure on Social Platforms: Stigma, Support, and Risk Communication
Keywords:
Perinatal substance use, Digital sociology, Stigma management, Risk communicationAbstract
The intersection of perinatal health, substance use, and digital sociology represents a complex domain of contemporary public health research. As individuals increasingly turn to digital spaces for health information and peer connection, social platforms have emerged as critical arenas for the disclosure of stigmatized behaviors, including perinatal substance use. This paper provides a comprehensive academic analysis of how pregnant and postpartum individuals navigate the disclosure of substance use on various social platforms. Drawing upon theories of stigma management, risk communication, and digital affordances, the research examines the dual nature of social platforms as environments that simultaneously offer unprecedented peer support and expose users to significant algorithmic and social risks. Through a detailed exploration of disclosure patterns, the study identifies the specific mechanisms users employ to mitigate stigma, such as the use of pseudo-anonymity and strategic narrative framing. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the profound disconnect between clinical risk communication regarding perinatal substance use and the peer-driven harm reduction paradigms prevalent in digital communities. By elucidating these dynamics, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of digital health behaviors and underscores the urgent need for public health interventions that are responsive to the realities of digital socialization. The findings advocate for the integration of digital ethnography into public health surveillance and the development of non-punitive, trauma-informed support structures that transcend the boundaries of clinical and digital spaces.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Greta Fischer, Daisuke Kondo, Gael Boucher
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