Resource Center: Special populations, Journal abstract

Presently, methadone is the recommended treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women, but is associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS is characterized by opioid withdrawal symptoms in the newborn, which often requires longer hospitalization and treatment. Buprenorphine, FDA-approved in 2002 for the treatment of opioid dependence in non-pregnant individuals, hasn't been extensively studied during pregnancy. Yet, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that buprenorphine offers an alternative to methadone in the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women. The study compared buprenorphine to methadone in 131 mothers and their newborns at eight international sites.

This study largely focused on children of parents who abuse alcohol but also contains some information on children of drug users.

This 2005 randomized controlled study examined transitioning women from short-acting opioids to buprenorphine with respect to safety and withdrawal discomfort.

This article discusses the abuse and misuse of psychoactive drugs among adults over the age of 50.

This study examined the responses of older adults to the Drug Abuse Problem Assessment for Primary Care (DAPA-PC), a computerized drug and alcohol abuse screening instrument developed for primary care settings.