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Developmental implications of prenatal opioid exposure among school-aged children: a mixed methods and

Andra Wilkinson1, H S Rackers2, T M Harmon3

  • 1Child Trends, Inc, 1516 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA. awilkinson@childtrends.org.

BMC Public Health
|September 18, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with prenatal opioid exposure face developmental challenges into school age, including behavioral issues. However, these children also demonstrate significant strengths like resilience and empathy, regardless of polysubstance use.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prenatal opioid exposure may have long-term developmental effects on children.
  • Polysubstance use and adverse childhood experiences are potential confounders.
  • Limited data exists on school-age children and their strengths.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental outcomes and strengths of school-age children with prenatal opioid exposure.
  • To explore the impact of prenatal opioid exposure on developmental delays and behavioral health.
  • To identify potential confounders and protective factors in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Mixed-methods approach involving surveys (n=148) and focus groups (n=15).
  • Data collected from parents and caregivers of children with prenatal opioid exposure.
  • Descriptive analysis of survey and focus group data from a convenience sample.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half of children had multiple developmental delays, behavioral health conditions, or learning disorders.
  • Approximately 85% of children exhibited behavioral challenges.
  • Associations between prenatal opioid exposure and negative outcomes were not affected by opioid type or polysubstance use when controlling for adverse childhood experiences.
  • Over 80% of families reported child strengths such as empathy, social magnetism, and resilience.

Conclusions:

  • Developmental challenges associated with prenatal opioid exposure persist into school age.
  • Findings align with research on younger children, highlighting the need for ongoing support beyond the neonatal period.
  • The study underscores the importance of recognizing both challenges and strengths in children affected by prenatal opioid exposure.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child developmentCommunity collaborationMixed methodsNeonatal opioid withdrawal syndromePrenatal opioid exposure

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