Reitman Foundation funds pilot study to investigate outcomes of neonates treated for opioid withdrawal

Researchers at Kessler Foundation will collaborate with Children's Specialized Hospital to study the outcomes of neonates treated for opioid withdrawal in the Hospital's Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Program. With a one-year pilot grant from the Reitman Foundation, John O'Neill, PhD, and Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, will examine the outcomes of the NAS Program, which is based on a combination of pharmacotherapy and environmental supports. Dr. O'Neill is director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research and Dr. Botticello is senior research scientist in the Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research at Kessler Foundation.

The few existing studies of children with NAS suggest they are at increased risk for infections, sleep disturbances, and vision, motor, cognitive and behavioral problems. Detailing the infants' outcomes post withdrawal will enable researchers to understand the factors that influence the severity of NAS and responses to the treatment protocol. This information will enable clinicians at Children's Specialized Hospital to evaluate the effects of NAS treatment practices and tailor their interventions to achieve optimal outcomes for these vulnerable infants.

"We need to look beyond the immediacy of this public health crisis," said Liz Lowenstein at the Reitman Foundation, "and find ways to minimize the impact of fetal opioid exposure. Given the productive collaboration of Kessler Foundation and Children's Specialized, we anticipate the discovery of effective interventions that help affected children achieve their full potential."

Drs. O'Neill and Botticello expect their findings will be of interest to the larger community of pediatric rehabilitation researchers.

The prevalence of drug addiction has resulted in a large population of newborns born with the symptoms of acute withdrawal that define neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS. The paucity of research studies hinders our understanding of the implications of NAS on long-term child development and well-being. This pilot study is an important step toward the larger longitudinal studies we need to ensure the development of effective strategies for the treatment of NAS and the long-term health complications that may arise for these children."

Dr. Amanda Botticello, senior research scientist in the Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research at Kessler Foundation