The Opioid Crisis on Our Caseloads: Babies born addicted to opioids can show immediate neurological problems, difficulties with feeding and failed hearing screenings. Studies also point to longer-term effects on development, including speech and language difficulties.

The article reports that babies born addicted to opioids can show immediate neurological problems, difficulties with feeding and failed hearing screenings, according to several studies. Around 91.8 million U.S. adults used opioids in 2015, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The best-practice position as of November 2018 is that pregnant women should not discontinue opioids suddenly during pregnancy. Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased from 2009 to 2013. INSET: 1.