Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome

Karen Sarmiento; Gabriel Castellanos Castañeda

doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695

Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome

Department of Physiological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Introduction: In Colombia, the DANE reports that the prevalence of illicit psychoactive substance (PAS) abuse in women aged 12–65 is 5.6 %, and during pregnancy, it is 6.9 % (DANE, 2020), a risk factor for Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).
Objective: To analyze the impact of NAS on neonatal development variables and its effect on public health
indicators.
Methodology: Databases Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, Scielo, and Medline were revised with MESH terms in Spanish/English. Retrospective hospital-based studies, review articles, and official documents were included,
excluding unavailable or irrelevant documents.
Results: NAS is a risk factor for NICU stays, low birth weight (Bailey and Diaz-Barbosa, 2018), growth and neurodevelopment delays, increased health service costs, and higher Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
More than 40 % of non-medical consumers of amphetamines, opioids, and sedatives are women (UNODC, 2022).
Despite a global increase in PAS use, no official statistics on NAS related to drug use were found.
Conclusions: NAS is a public health issue due to its short- and long-term health implications. Prevention policies
are necessary.

Translated title of the contribution	Actualización del impacto del Síndrome de Abstinencia Neonatal
Original language	English
Article number	31
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Neonatal Nursing
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695
State	Published - 16 Jun 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Neonatal abstinence syndrome
neonate
child development
Substance use during pregnancy
Infants exposed to substances

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10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695

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title = "Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome",

abstract = "Introduction: In Colombia, the DANE reports that the prevalence of illicit psychoactive substance (PAS) abuse in women aged 12–65 is 5.6 \%, and during pregnancy, it is 6.9 \% (DANE, 2020), a risk factor for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Objective: To analyze the impact of NAS on neonatal development variables and its effect on public health indicators. Methodology: Databases Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, Scielo, and Medline were revised with MESH terms in Spanish/English. Retrospective hospital-based studies, review articles, and official documents were included, excluding unavailable or irrelevant documents. Results: NAS is a risk factor for NICU stays, low birth weight (Bailey and Diaz-Barbosa, 2018), growth and neurodevelopment delays, increased health service costs, and higher Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). More than 40 \% of non-medical consumers of amphetamines, opioids, and sedatives are women (UNODC, 2022). Despite a global increase in PAS use, no official statistics on NAS related to drug use were found. Conclusions: NAS is a public health issue due to its short- and long-term health implications. Prevention policies are necessary.",

keywords = "Neonatal abstinence syndrome, neonate, child development, Substance use during pregnancy, Infants exposed to substances",

author = "Karen Sarmiento and \{Castellanos Casta{\~n}eda\}, Gabriel",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Neonatal Nursing",

issn = "1878-089X",

}

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T1 - Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome

AU - Sarmiento, Karen

AU - Castellanos Castañeda, Gabriel

PY - 2025/6/16

Y1 - 2025/6/16

N2 - Introduction: In Colombia, the DANE reports that the prevalence of illicit psychoactive substance (PAS) abuse in women aged 12–65 is 5.6 %, and during pregnancy, it is 6.9 % (DANE, 2020), a risk factor for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Objective: To analyze the impact of NAS on neonatal development variables and its effect on public health indicators. Methodology: Databases Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, Scielo, and Medline were revised with MESH terms in Spanish/English. Retrospective hospital-based studies, review articles, and official documents were included, excluding unavailable or irrelevant documents. Results: NAS is a risk factor for NICU stays, low birth weight (Bailey and Diaz-Barbosa, 2018), growth and neurodevelopment delays, increased health service costs, and higher Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). More than 40 % of non-medical consumers of amphetamines, opioids, and sedatives are women (UNODC, 2022). Despite a global increase in PAS use, no official statistics on NAS related to drug use were found. Conclusions: NAS is a public health issue due to its short- and long-term health implications. Prevention policies are necessary.

AB - Introduction: In Colombia, the DANE reports that the prevalence of illicit psychoactive substance (PAS) abuse in women aged 12–65 is 5.6 %, and during pregnancy, it is 6.9 % (DANE, 2020), a risk factor for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Objective: To analyze the impact of NAS on neonatal development variables and its effect on public health indicators. Methodology: Databases Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, Scielo, and Medline were revised with MESH terms in Spanish/English. Retrospective hospital-based studies, review articles, and official documents were included, excluding unavailable or irrelevant documents. Results: NAS is a risk factor for NICU stays, low birth weight (Bailey and Diaz-Barbosa, 2018), growth and neurodevelopment delays, increased health service costs, and higher Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). More than 40 % of non-medical consumers of amphetamines, opioids, and sedatives are women (UNODC, 2022). Despite a global increase in PAS use, no official statistics on NAS related to drug use were found. Conclusions: NAS is a public health issue due to its short- and long-term health implications. Prevention policies are necessary.

KW - Neonatal abstinence syndrome

KW - neonate

KW - child development

KW - Substance use during pregnancy

KW - Infants exposed to substances

UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355184125000808?dgcid=coauthor

U2 - 10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695

DO - 10.1016/j.jnn.2025.101695

M3 - Article

SN - 1878-089X

JO - Journal of Neonatal Nursing

JF - Journal of Neonatal Nursing

M1 - 31

ER -

Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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