By 2017, on the back of the opioid crisis, the rate of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in the U.S. was estimated to have reached 7.3 per 1000 deliveries. Meanwhile, many newborns exposed to opioids in utero never develop the syndrome and must undergo needless monitoring in the hospital after birth.

Vanderbilt research found that there is variability in practice for infants affected by maternal substance use driven by vague policy, challenges of cross-system collaboration and a lack of general knowledge about substance use disorder.

VUMC study finds that preoperative patient characteristics can predict daily opioid use at six months after surgery, suggesting opportunities for development of electronic risk-stratification algorithms.

Vanderbilt research shows that most individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder are not on recommended medications and even fewer remain in care.

A panel of experts on opioid use disorder (OUD) recently discussed the importance of building recovery ecosystems or networks of resources to respond to the opioid epidemic.

Vanderbilt researchers found that chronic use of opioid painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone significantly increases the risk of dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.

In a new study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers, women who filled two or more prescriptions for opioids after childbirth faced a 46% greater risk of death than women who did not.