Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Association of Polysubstance Exposure and Neonatal Weight Loss Among Infants Exposed to Opioids

Nicole Andersen1, Andrew Wiese1, Nicolas Gargurevich2

  • 1Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.

Journal of Pediatrics. Clinical Practice
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infants exposed to opioids and other substances showed increased neonatal weight loss. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and nonopioid drug exposures were linked to greater weight loss in newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Opioid exposure in utero affects infant development.
  • Neonatal weight loss is a critical indicator of infant health.
  • Understanding risk factors for excessive weight loss is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize weight trajectories in opioid-exposed infants.
  • To evaluate the association between various prenatal exposures and excessive neonatal weight loss.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study using linked electronic health records, vital records, and claims data (2010-2021).
  • Characterized prenatal exposures including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), non-MOUD opioids, and other substances.
  • Assessed neonatal weight loss as maximum percentage decrease from birth weight within the first 14 days.

Main Results:

  • Among 868 opioid-exposed infants, 71.7% had additional prenatal substance exposures.
  • Infants with additional exposures exhibited greater median weight loss and a later nadir.
  • MOUD prescriptions and positive toxicology for nonopioid drugs were associated with increased maximum percentage weight loss.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to MOUD and nonopioid substances is linked to greater weight loss in opioid-exposed neonates.
  • Findings can guide clinical strategies to manage and mitigate neonatal weight loss.
  • Further research may explore specific interventions for at-risk infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
neonatal opioid withdrawal syndromeneonatal weight lossopioid-exposurepolysubstance exposure

More Related Videos

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence09:54

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Published on: March 8, 2020

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods09:29

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...