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A mixed-methods report on pregnancy and substance use in Oklahoma
Paths to Recovery stems from Metriarch’s involvement with the Tulsa Fetal Infant Mortality Review (TFIMR) program housed at the Tulsa Health Department. From 2018 to 2022, TFIMR identified six cases where substance use was believed to be a contributing factor in a fetal/infant death.
As participants in the TFMIR Community Action Team, Metriarch volunteered to dig deeper into the prevalence and scope of maternal substance use in the Tulsa area. The more our research team unearthed, however, the clearer it became that a statewide lens was needed to capture the full picture.
This report is the result of over three years of work, executed primarily (but not exclusively) by Metriarch staff but made possible by the bravery of Oklahomans with lived experience, their health and social service providers, and their advocates.
Eliza Washington. Eliza is a doula and an anthropologist with extensive training in qualitative and mixed methods research. Their work is centered around reproductive justice and addressing social/structural disparities that impact healthcare access. In their role as Data & Research Analyst with Metriarch, Eliza utilizes the full data life cycle to center marginalized voices and address equity gaps in healthcare and policy.
Caitlin Beasley. Caitlin is a policy wonk and storyteller leveraging her training in research and background in public relations to improve the health of Oklahomans. In her role as Policy Engagement Manager at Metriarch, she supports partnerships and research initiatives with a focus on trauma-informed, ethical storytelling and the power of compelling narratives in driving actionable empathy.
Additional support provided by:
Lance Brightmire. Lance studies Anthropology at Brown University, where he focuses on community-driven policy research at the municipal level. Through his work in his native Tulsa, he has translated policy analysis into accessible media helping communities engage with data-driven solutions. Lance believes effective policy emerges when research serves community connection.
River Cheater. River is a rising 3L at the University of Tulsa College of Law. She has participated in the Reproductive Justice Practicum and has served as the Reproductive Rights Law Society president for two semesters. She hopes to make a tangible impact for reproductive justice in Oklahoma following graduation.
Austin Detty. Austin graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in May 2025 after moving from Huntington, West Virginia. He worked in his final semester with the University’s Reproductive Justice Practicum, and his final year with the University’s Legal Clinic. Austin is married to a Respiratory Therapist and will be moving to North Carolina once he graduates in May to continue his legal career.
Tayla Kelly. Tayla holds a B.A. in Women’s and Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado and is a Certified Community-Based Doula with specialized Queer Doula Training. As a policy advocate and social justice activist, Tayla is deeply committed to advancing reproductive justice, educational equity, and health equity. She is passionate about creating meaningful, accessible experiences that amplify underrepresented communities and drive lasting social and policy change.
Hannah McAnallen. Hannah graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2025. During her time at TU she participated in the Reproductive Rights Practicum for two semesters and served as fellow in the Dean’s Academic Support Fellowship.
Cal Ransom. Cal is a graduate from Oberlin College. He’s recently started working at the Environmental Dashboard at Oberlin as the Assistant Project Manager. When he’s not at work, you can find him trying out a new diner or swimming in Lake Erie.
Siara Romero. Siara is a current undergraduate student at New York University, studying public policy and public health, with an expected graduation year of 2027. She is an associate writer for the NYU Journal of Medicine and Law and an active member of the Reproductive Action Health Network, where she promotes access to reproductive health resources and education.
Metriarch® is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to advancing the health, well-being, and opportunities of women in Oklahoma and beyond through public health and policy monitoring, analysis, and research. We aim to inform decision-makers across the political spectrum and foster evidence-driven change that supports women’s health and equity. Maintaining the independence and integrity of our work is essential to this goal; it ensures our findings are accurate, credible, and free from partisan or industry influence.
As a fiscally-sponsored entity housed within the Tulsa Community Foundation, our commitment to transparency and impartiality preserves the trust placed in Metriarch, reinforcing our reputation as a reliable resource. Our team uses empirically sound methodologies and adheres to the highest standards of quality and objectivity, incorporating input from diverse stakeholders—including advocates, funders, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience—while retaining full control over the direction, conclusions, and recommendations of our work product.
We recognize that gender is expansive, and that not everyone who is affected by the issues we study identifies as a woman. However, in our work, we often use terms like “women” because much of the policy, data, and systems we analyze are framed using that language.
We acknowledge that language can be both powerful and imperfect. Our intent is never to exclude. Whenever possible, we aim to be inclusive of all people impacted by the issues we study, regardless of gender identity.
We recognize that summarizing information is neither unbiased nor infallible; to summarize is to choose the information that will be highlighted. We are committed to learning and understanding the ways in which bias can affect the translation of complex materials. Quotations within this document are provided in our participants’ own words, unless otherwise noted. All proper names and sensitive information from our interview data have been substituted for pseudonyms or removed.
