BACKGROUND Current pharmacologic treatment of the neonatal abstinence syndrome with morphine is associated with a lengthy duration of therapy and hospitalization. Buprenorphine may be more effective than morphine for this indication. METHODS In this single-site, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial, we randomly assigned 63 term infants (≥37 weeks of gestation) who had been exposed to opi...

No local figures are available in Singapore on the incidence of perinatal drug abuse and its effect on the foetus and the neonate. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of perinatal drug abuse and neonatal abstinence syndrome; to identify a maternal profile at high risk for substance abuse and to document the presenting features and treatment of infants with neonatal abst...

NICU nurses have seen a dramatic increase in cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The care needs of infants with NAS are highly demanding and can lead to feelings of frustration and emotional exhaustion among NICU nurses. Although studies have examined the experiences of nurses caring for NAS patients, none have specifically addressed the risk for compassion fatigue and burnout. Nurses ...

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a growing public health concern, one that costs the health care system $190-$720 million each year. Recently, state-level perinatal quality collaborative groups have disseminated NAS action plans: customizable frameworks aimed to assist health care systems in identifying, evaluating, treating, and coordinating discharge services for neonates with NAS. Hospi...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the generalizability of stringent protocol-driven weaning in improving total duration of opioid treatment and length of inpatient hospital stay after treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 981 infants who completed pharmacologic treatment of NAS with methadone or morphine from January 2012 through August ...

The opioid abuse problem in the United States has grown into an epidemic, with an estimated 2.5 million Americans currently dependent on heroin or prescription pain medications. One of the many consequences of this growing public health crisis has been a marked increase in the number of infants born to mothers who used opioids during pregnancy. The rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), th...

The incidence of opioid abuse and subsequent drug withdrawal is exponentially on the rise in the United States for many populations including newborns who are born to drug-addicted mothers. These newborns often exhibit symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) within 24 to 72 hours of birth. Treatment of NAS includes monitoring of withdrawal symptoms, managing physiological parameters, and...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The incidence and associated costs of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) have recently risen sharply; newborns with NAS occupy 4% of NICU beds. We implemented a coordinated program for NAS including standardized protocols for scoring, medications and weaning, and a calm rooming-in environment, to improve family-centered care and to decrease both length of stay (LOS) and...

Substance misuse within the UK population continues to be a major public health concern (FIGURE 1). Approximately one in four of those entering drug treatment programmes in 2010-2011 were female, many of who were of childbearing age. Pregnant substance misusing women need supportive and coordinated care during pregnancy. They have been highlighted as a specific group in need by the National Ins...