MedLink Neurology Podcast is delighted to feature selected episodes from BrainWaves, courtesy of James E Siegler MD, its originator and host. BrainWaves is an academic audio podcast whose mission is to educate medical providers through clinical cases and topical reviews in neurology, medicine, and the humanities, and episodes originally aired from 2016 to 2021.

Originally released: November 9, 2017

With the ongoing opioid crisis, not only those using opiates are affected. There has been an exponential rise in the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome--the multiorgan dysfunction experienced by newborns of mothers who are using opioid products and other substances. This week, we discuss the manifestations and ramifications of this disease, with a short commentary on the implications of this global epidemic.

Produced by James E Siegler. Music by Little Glass Men, Jason Shaw, and Chris Zabriskie. Voiceover by Erika Mejia. BrainWaves' podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used for clinical decision-making. This is no excuse to give your irritable baby opiates in their applesauce.

REFERENCES

Hagan H, McGough JP, Thiede H, Weiss NS, Hopkins S, Alexander ER. Syringe exchange and risk of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses. Am J Epidemiol 1999;149(3):203-13. PMID 9927214

Hudak ML, Tan RC; Committee On Drugs; Committee On Fetus And Newborn; American Academy of Pediatrics. Neonatal drug withdrawal. Pediatrics 2012;129(2):e540-60. PMID 22291123

Jarlenski M, Barry CL, Gollust S, Graves AJ, Kennedy-Hendricks A, Kozhimannil K. Polysubstance use among us women of reproductive age who use opioids for nonmedical reasons. Am J Public Health 2017;107(8):1308-10. PMID 28640680

Kocherlakota P. Neonatal abstinence syndrome. Pediatrics 2014;134(2):e547-61. PMID 25070299

McQueen K, Murphy-Oikonen J. Neonatal abstinence syndrome. N Engl J Med 2016;375(25):2468-79. PMID 28002715

Vlahov D, Des Jarlais DC, Goosby E, et al. Needle exchange programs for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection: epidemiology and policy. Am J Epidemiol 2001;154(12 Suppl):S70-7. PMID 11744532

Wodak A, Cooney A. Do needle syringe programs reduce HIV infection among injecting drug users: a comprehensive review of the international evidence. Subst Use Misuse 2006;41(6-7):777-813. PMID 16809167

We believe that the principles expressed or implied in the podcast remain valid, but certain details may be superseded by evolving knowledge since the episode's original release date.