A foster carers’ training package for home treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome: facilitating early discharge

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a constellation of symptoms seen in newborn infants exposed to opioid during pregnancy. The sudden cessation of supply at birth leads to a variety of symptoms that can be unpleasant for the infant and difficult to treat. There is evidence to support the use of pharmacological agents in treating NAS; however, non-pharmacological supportive care is equally important. A hospital may not be the most appropriate environment for care: facilitating the discharge of these infants to the home environment will benefit them and the service.