Prevalence of Prenatal Opioid Exposure in Ontario, Canada, 2014-2019

Source:

Camden A, Ray JG, To T, Gomes T, Bai L, Guttmann A. Prevalence of Prenatal Opioid Exposure in Ontario, Canada, 2014-2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(2):e2037388. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.37388

Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) is a major public health concern necessitating accurate surveillance data. The observed rate of POE in this study (5.3% from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019) was nearly 5 times higher than that described by Corsi et al (1.1% from April 1, 2012, through March 31, 2018). POE decreased over time; this decrease was induced primarily by decreases in prescribed opioid analgesics and cough medications. Decreases in the use of opioid analgesics or antitussive agents likely reflect the uptake of more conservative opioid-prescribing guidelines, whereas increases in the use of buprenorphine likely reflect the 2017 Canadian clinical practice guidelines on opioid use disorder management with buprenorphine or methadone.