SCIENCE

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

We collect the latest data from scientists who study the impacts of prenatal substance exposure. Below you will find easy to read explanations, along with links to the published articles.

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NOTE: We recognize that for some women, using methadone or buprenorphine during pregnancy may be the best option for managing opioid use disorder. At the same time, we acknowledge that exposing a fetus to any opioid, including methadone and buprenorphine, carries risks. The information presented on this website is intended to provide insight and does not seek to support or discourage the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Our goal is to empower individuals with knowledge so they can make informed decisions in consultation with their healthcare providers.

Lenette Serlo 9/14/23 Lenette Serlo 9/14/23

Visual Function in Children aged 5–13 years with Prenatal Exposure to Opioid Maintenance Therapy

Does prenatal exposure to opioids, specifically Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), affect the visual functioning of school children? Yes, it does. And whether mom was treated with methadone or buprenorphine makes a difference.

Lenette Serlo 9/12/23 Lenette Serlo 9/12/23

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and the Gastrointestinal Tract

The gut-brain connection is trending due to new understandings of the important links between these vital organs. What does this mean for opioid exposed infants? Is their gut, aka gastrointestinal tract, affected by the opiates mom consumes? These researchers had the same questions.

Lenette Serlo 9/8/23 Lenette Serlo 9/8/23

Brain Connectivity in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure

This study on infant brains, exposed to opioids prenatally, shows network connections in the brain are different than the connections of non-exposed infant brains.

Lenette Serlo 8/1/23 Lenette Serlo 8/1/23

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and High School Performance

Little is known about the long term outcomes of children with NAS diagnoses, including how they perform in school. In this study, researchers linked health data to school test scores and recorded how children with prenatal opioid exposure lined up against their peers..