AAP publishes report on neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published a clinical report with recommendations for improving health outcomes for infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). The report notes a rise in the incidence of NOWS, from 1.2 to 8.8 per 1,000 births between 2000 and 2016 and an increasing number of children in the foster care system. In response, AAP offers several recommendations including increased access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for pregnant women, partnerships between pediatricians and State and local welfare agencies to advocate for funding, counseling and education for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD), standardized approaches in hospitals to guide their management of opioid-exposed infants, and several other hospital regulations for women and their children post birth.