Webinar: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for the General Pediatrician

Presenters: Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, AAP Committee on Substance Use and Prevention

                      Brenda Poindexter, MD, MS, FAAP, AAP Committee on Fetus and Newborn 

Sponsor: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

About this webinar: The goal of this webinar is to train pediatricians in evidence-based practices to prevent, identify, and treat neonatal abstinence syndrome.

In 2012, the AAP Committee on Fetus and Newborn published a clinical report on Neonatal Drug Withdrawal that summarized the signs and clinical presentation of neonatal withdrawal consistent with maternal use and intrauterine exposure of certain drugs during pregnancy and provided therapeutic options for the treatment of withdrawal. Since the time of this publication, the use of prescription opioid medications in pregnant women and rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) have reached epidemic proportions. In this webinar, we will review the evidence on improvements in the identification of at-risk infants and standardized treatment and will review best practices for discharge and post-hospital follow-up for infants with NAS.

Educational Objectives:

• Summarize epidemiology and population health consequences of opioid use in the US, including NAS.

• Review treatment of NAS, including non-pharmacologic interventions.

• Appraise the evidence from recent clinical trials evaluating pharmacotherapy for NAS.

• Describe the need for long-term outcome follow-up of infants exposed to opioids in-utero and those who receive pharmacologic treatment for NAS.

Continuing Education Information: 

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
• The AAP designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
• This activity is acceptable for a maximum of 1.0 AAP credits. These credits can be applied toward the AAP CME/CPD Award available to Fellows and Candidate Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 1.0 hours of Category 1 credit for completing this program.
• This program is accredited for 1.0 NAPNAP CE contact hours of which 0 contain pharmacology (Rx) content, (0 related to psychopharmacology) (0 related to controlled substances), per the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Continuing Education Guidelines.