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. 2015 Nov:80:12-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.07.017. Epub 2015 Jul 29.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome: Historical perspective, current focus, future directions

Hendrée E Jones  1 , Andrea Fielder  2
Affiliations

Neonatal abstinence syndrome: Historical perspective, current focus, future directions

Hendrée E Jones et al. Prev Med. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) occurs following prenatal opioid exposure. It is characterized by signs and symptoms indicating central nervous system hyperirritability and autonomic nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory system dysfunction.

Objective: This article: (1) briefly reviews NAS history, including initial identification, assessment, and treatment efforts; (2) summarizes the current status of and current issues surrounding recent NAS assessment and treatment, and (3) details future directions in NAS conceptualization, measurement, and treatment.

Results: Mortality rate estimates in neonates treated for NAS exceeded 33%, and surpassed 90% for un-treated infants during the late-1800s until the mid-1900s. The focus of both assessment and treatment over the past 50years is predominantly due to two forces. First, methadone pharmacotherapy for "heroin addiction" led to women in methadone maintenance programs who were, or became pregnant. The second was defining NAS and developing a measure of neonatal withdrawal, the Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (NASS). Various NAS treatment protocols were based on the NASS as well as other NAS measures.

Conclusions: Future research must focus on psychometrically sound screening and assessment measures of neonatal opioid withdrawal for premature, term and older infants, measuring and treating possible withdrawal from non-opioids, particularly benzodiazepines, integrated non-pharmacological treatment of NAS, weight-based versus symptom-based treatment of NAS, and second-line treatment for NAS.

Keywords: Neonatal abstinence syndrome; Neonatal opioid withdrawal; Opioid use disorder.

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