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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

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Developmental outcomes with perinatal exposure (DOPE) to prescription opioids

Adrian Flores1,2, Nghi M Nguyen1,3, Gurudutt Pendyala1,3,4,5

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.

Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|December 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Perinatal opioid exposure increases the risk of developmental disorders in children. This review examines developmental outcomes of prenatal opioid exposure (DOPE) and their lifelong implications.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Opioid use during pregnancy is increasing, leading to a 300-400% rise in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).
  • NOWS is an early indicator of persistent behavioral, synaptic, and phenotypic deficits.
  • Existing research links perinatal opioid exposure to long-term developmental issues in offspring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the developmental outcomes of perinatal exposure (DOPE) to prescription opioids.
  • To connect findings on DOPE to clinical research across different life stages.
  • To provide a framework for understanding the mechanisms and long-term implications of DOPE.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on perinatal opioid exposure and offspring development.
  • Synthesis of findings from preclinical and clinical research.
  • Analysis of developmental outcomes from infancy through adulthood.

Main Results:

  • Perinatal opioid exposure is associated with a spectrum of developmental deficits.
  • These deficits manifest in behavioral, synaptic, and phenotypic changes.
  • The long-term consequences of DOPE require further investigation across the lifespan.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the mechanisms underlying DOPE is crucial for intervention.
  • DOPE has significant implications for long-term health and development.
  • Further research is needed to address the lifelong impact of prenatal opioid exposure.

Keywords:
epidemiologyneurobehaviorperinatalpreclinicalprescription opioids

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