Opioid use during pregnancy has become a growing public health concern. It affects thousands of newborns who experience withdrawal symptoms shortly after birth. These infants often require medical treatment and extended hospital care to manage a condition known as Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). Now, researchers have discovered that involving families more closely in a baby’s care may help improve recovery. It may also reduce the need for medication. In fact, recent studies have shown that family-focused treatment for opioid-exposed babies can lead to better outcomes.
Researchers at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center studied babies exposed to opioids during pregnancy. They evaluated the role of family-centered care in their recovery, with particular attention to family-focused treatment for opioid-exposed babies.
The team evaluated a treatment approach that encourages parents to actively care for newborns experiencing Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). This condition occurs when infants experience withdrawal after exposure to opioids in the womb, and family-focused treatment for opioid-exposed babies is becoming an increasingly recommended strategy.
Scientists released the findings in 2026 as part of ongoing research on treatment options for opioid-exposed newborns.
The research took place at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.
Researchers aim to develop safer and more effective treatments that reduce the need for medication in infants with NOWS. Therefore, family-focused treatment for opioid-exposed babies is a primary consideration in current research.
However, recent studies done at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center have found further evidence supporting the use of a family-based treatment technique. This technique is aimed at helping infants suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome. This condition is caused by maternal exposure to opioids.
Doctors normally use medications and a longer stay in hospitals in order to provide treatment for infants diagnosed with this disease. Nevertheless, the researchers suggest that family-based techniques can be more effective. These approaches may provide the necessary results.
The treatment technique includes several steps, such as skin-to-skin contact, swaddling, breastfeeding if applicable, and providing the child with a comfortable environment. As a result, children undergoing treatment feel better. Additionally, their parents become actively involved in helping them recover.
The authors state that this therapy can significantly decrease the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. It can also minimize the necessity of using medicine in certain situations. Moreover, hospitals that use this technique have noted reduced time spent in the hospital. They have also seen better bonding between parents and their babies.