Intervening with Opioid-Exposed Newborns:: Modifying an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention

Prenatal opioid exposure predisposes infants to adverse development of regulatory systems and jeopardizes their long-term health outcomes. While sensitive caregiving promotes healthy development of emotional and physiological regulation and may remediate risks associated with prenatal opioid exposure, mothers with opioid use disorder often experience unique challenges that make providing sensitive care difficult.

Empirically tested early interventions, such as the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention, can positively impact children's development following adversity through promoting sensitive caregiving. ABC intervention targets correspond to those parenting behaviors that may be challenging for mothers with opioid use disorder (i.e., nurturing infants who may be difficult to soothe, responding sensitively to infants by following the child's lead with delight, and avoiding intrusive/frightening behavior), and have positive impacts on child development and regulation. However, given the unique challenges for infants and mothers impacted by opioid use, some adaptations may strategically address those vulnerabilities and thereby maximize the potential benefits for this population.

The present paper describes modifications made to the ABC intervention for use with pregnant mothers in treatment for opioid use disorder. This modified intervention is currently being examined via a large scale randomized clinical trial (RCT) at the University of Delaware, and a case study is presented here to highlight considerations for working with mothers and infants impacted by opioid use and to exemplify ways that modified ABC addresses the needs of this population.