Early life opioid exposure and potential long-term effects

The long-term consequences of perinatal opioid exposure and subsequent development of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome is largely unknown and likely dependent on a multitude of factors, including co-morbid drug use, pre- and post-natal care, and individual factors including the maternal-infant relationship and home environment. This review summarizes the current literature from clinical and preclinical studies on perinatal opioid exposure, focusing on the consequences in the offspring. Although a large number of preclinical studies have been conducted examining the impact of prenatal opioid exposure, the models employed are not necessarily representative of clinical use patterns, making it challenging to translate these results to the impacted population. Use of more clinically-relevant models of perinatal opioid exposure are requisite for the development of improved pharmacological and behavioral treatment strategies to improve quality of life for this vulnerable population.