Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

Two major policy updates were published in 2024 regarding opioids and children.

More infants who were exposed to strong agonists and opioids with long half-lives developed neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome compared with those not exposed, recent findings showed.

Although substance use is less prevalent among pregnant women than nonpregnant women, use during pregnancy has significant adverse effects on maternal, as well as fetal, neonatal and childhood health outcomes, according to a presenter at the American Psychiatric Association Spring Highlights Meeting.