The immediate and long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure

Front Pediatr. 2022 Nov 7:10:1039055. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.1039055. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The opioid epidemic has adversely affected neonates and children, yet the mechanisms by which it impacts this population are not well understood. Not only does prenatal opioid exposure result in short-term consequences shortly after birth, it also creates long-term sequelae that may predispose these children to physical, emotional, psychiatric, cognitive, and socioeconomic problems in the future. This article provides a scoping overview of the long-term effects of antenatal opioid exposure on neonates and children as well as quality improvement and research efforts to understand and mitigate this major public health concern.

Keywords: brain development; growth trajectory; long-term outcomes; neonatal abstinence syndrome; nutrition; ophthalmologic disorders; physical therapy; short-term effects.

Publication types

  • Review