Update on the impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome

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.