Kaiser Health News describes current treatment practices for babies born addicted to opioid drugs, despite lack of research or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics and others recommend treating addicted babies, also known as neonatal abstinence syndrome, with opioids such as morphine and methadone because "you’re giving them back what they’re withdrawing from." 

However, chief of newborn medicine at Tufts’ Medical Center, Dr. Jonathan Davis, says no one’s really done the research to determine which drug works better for babies, and doctors are left to figure that out by trial and error, case by case. Though the FDA hasn’t officially approved morphine or methadone for use in newborns, doctors prescribe these drugs to the children anyway, in smaller doses than they give adults.

On Wednesday, March 23, experts and advocates convened for a webinar to discuss the pressing need for new neonatal medications.  Specifically, speakers examined the promising policy developments that may offer a way to solve the challenge of encouraging the development of drugs for our nations newborns.

The diverse panel discussed the difficulties in neonatal drug development and the legislation currently moving through the U.S. Senate, The Promoting Life-Saving New Therapies for Neonates Act. In conclusion, the panel encouraged stakeholders to use this simple form send a letter to their Members of Congress urging them ​to cosponsor the legislation.