Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Non-pharmacological care in neonatal abstinence syndrome. Scoping review
María Cal-García1, Carmen Neri Fernández-Pombo2
1Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), España.
Introduction:
This scoping review examines the current evidence on the effective non-pharmacological management of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) resulting from maternal exposure to drugs of abuse.
Methods:
The following databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science (Clarivate), CINAHL, and SCOPUS. A total of 98 citations were screened on the basis of title and abstract. The selection of articles was presented using a flowchart in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The quality of the evidence was assessed using validated checklists.
Results:
Of the studies that were identified, only eight were included in this review. In six of the eight studies, non-pharmacological interventions were administered to newborns with NAS. The efficacy of these interventions in alleviating withdrawal symptoms, reducing the necessity for pharmacotherapy, and decreasing the duration of hospitalization, has been well-documented.
Discussion:
Non-pharmacological measures are of pivotal importance in the clinical recovery of newborns with NAS, as they enhance self-regulation, alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and reduce the need for pharmacotherapy, thereby supporting more effective and less invasive care.
Related Concept Videos
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug Dependence
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

