Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

A multi-faceted approach will be the most effective for addressing NAS and should include prevention strategies that directly impact the cycle of addiction, spanning the social determinants of health, including poverty and lack of access to healthcare and education.

The Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Framework: Structuring Collective State-Level Efforts to Prevent NAS (2017)
An updated framework to aid in structuring stakeholder discussions at the state level to better understand how collective efforts can prevent in-utero opioid exposure and impact the incidence of NAS.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: How States Can Help Advance the Knowledge Base for Primary Prevention and Best Practices of Care (2014)
Provides an overview of NAS and describes how states addressing knowledge gaps through interdepartmental efforts, perinatal learning collaboratives, and quality improvement initiatives.

How State Health Departments Can Use the Spectrum of Prevention to Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Companion Report (2015)
Case examples and a suggested framework for states to consider when planning efforts aimed at addressing the NAS epidemic.

State and Territory Examples

Opioid Response Toolkit: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Prevention, Screening, and Treatment (2020) | Spanish
This toolkit aims to present PR DOH with NAS-related resources that it can modify according to its needs and capacity and share and implement within its healthcare system. This toolkit discusses how to screen pregnant women for substance use, screen infants for prenatal exposure to substances, recognize the signs of NAS, utilize validated screening tools, understand the importance of provider education, and engage pregnant women in the process of treatment and referral. ASTHO, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), created this resource for the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR DOH).

Reducing Opioid-Associated Risks: Key Opportunities and Successes in Kentucky and West Virginia
West Virginia takes a comprehensive approach to reducing opioid associated risks for vulnerable populations including an innovative approach to requiring NAS screening.

Ohio Takes Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Ohio is taking a comprehensive approach—through policies, research, programs, and surveillance—to curb the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids and save thousands of newborns from the harmful effects of prenatal exposure to opioids.

Maine CDC Snuggle ME Guidelines Developed to Standardize Care for Families of Drug-Affected Babies
Maine CDC, has released Snuggle ME, a practitioner’s comprehensive guide to caring for drug-affected babies and their families from the prenatal period through the first year of life.

Washington State Guidelines and Programs Reduce the Number of Alcohol and Drug-Exposed Babies
The Washington State Department of Health has developed policy, practice and resource materials to promote early and consistent prenatal and postnatal substance abuse screening practices among healthcare providers to implement effective interventions for mothers and their children.

Colorado Committee Convenes Stakeholders to Address Prenatal Substance Exposure
The Colorado Substance Exposed Newborns Steering Committee brought together key stakeholders to improve identification and treatment of substance use during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

West Virginia's Coordinated Network of Providers Promotes Well-Being of Women and Babies
A comprehensive, coordinated network of public and private healthcare providers promotes the well-being of women and babies statewide.