Utilization of health and supportive services amongst children with prenatal opioid exposure: a mixed methods and community-initiated analysis

AI Summary

Most children with prenatal opioid exposure receive supportive services, notably Early Intervention (80%), IEPs (39%), occupational therapy (35%), and mental health counselling (31%).
Caregivers report significant barriers navigating a fractured, complex system and encountering providers who dismiss links between children's difficulties and prenatal opioid exposure.
Families prioritise investment in paediatric and educator professional development, integrated screening and services, best practices beyond the NICU, and greater mental health access.

AI Summary

BACKGROUND: Research suggests long-term developmental implications of prenatal opioid exposure (POE) that may contribute to healthcare and educational service utilization patterns, such as lower utilization of preventative healthcare services, higher utilization of emergency department and inpatient services, and higher utilization of supportive educational services. Caregivers expressed navigating significant challenges in trying to access services for their children with POE, from a fractured and complex system to providers who do not see their child's struggles or believe they are connected to POE. CONCLUSIONS: Based on families' reported experiences, investments in professional development for pediatricians and educators, a clinical understanding of the long-term implications of POE, best practices beyond the NICU, more integrated screening and services, and greater access to mental health services are top priorities.

Basic summary

BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 Jun 5. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14887-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

METHODS: Parents and caregivers of children with POE worked with the study team to design, collect, and descriptively analyze mixed-method data. Data were collected through a survey (n = 148) and two focus groups (n = 15) from a convenience sample, 75% in West Virginia and Massachusetts.

RESULTS: The vast majority of children in the sample received some type of supportive service, with Early Intervention (80%) and/or Individualized Education Plans (39%) being the most commonly reported. Additionally, children commonly received outpatient services such as occupational therapy (35%) or mental health counseling (31%), among others. Caregivers expressed navigating significant challenges in trying to access services for their children with POE, from a fractured and complex system to providers who do not see their child’s struggles or believe they are connected to POE. Utilization patterns did not vary between children with just POE and children with exposures to additional substances prenatally.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on families’ reported experiences, investments in professional development for pediatricians and educators, a clinical understanding of the long-term implications of POE, best practices beyond the NICU, more integrated screening and services, and greater access to mental health services are top priorities.

PMID:42249422 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-026-14887-3

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