Hospital Care of Opioid-Exposed Newborns: Clinical and Psychosocial Challenges

J Hosp Med. 2020 Oct;15(10):613-618. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3369.

Abstract

In the past two decades, the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has risen fivefold, mirroring the rise of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women. The resulting increases in length of stay and neonatal intensive care utilization are associated with higher hospital costs, particularly among Medicaid-financed deliveries. Pregnant women with OUD require comprehensive medical and psychosocial evaluation and management; this combined with medication-assisted treatment is critical to optimize maternal and newborn outcomes. Multidisciplinary collaboration and standardized approaches to screening for intrauterine opioid exposure, evaluation and treatment of NAS, and discharge planning are important for clinical outcomes and may improve maternal experience of care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Length of Stay
  • Medicaid
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome* / therapy
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / drug therapy
  • Opioid-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid