Addressing the impact of opioids on women and children

Women and children bear a substantial part of the burden of opioid overuse in the United States. Opioid use during pregnancy can lead to neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, and both the mothers and babies may be at higher risk of opioid use and its consequences later in the life course, setting up intergenerational cycles of opioid overuse. As part of the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative of the National Institutes of Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes program are together launching observational and intervention research programs to interrupt these cycles, beginning with opportunities in pregnancy and the newborn period. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has also launched programs to find alternatives to opioids for painful conditions in women of reproductive age, including a range of gynecologic conditions. These coordinated efforts promise to help turn the tide against the opioid crisis by providing the necessary evidence to improve care for women and children affected by these substances.