Prenatal drug exposure is one of the fastest growing public health problems in the world. A great deal of attention is focused on treating the infant’s withdrawal after birth and reducing duration of hospitalisation but emerging evidence shows that later problems, such as increased risk of death, disability and intra-generational disadvantage. The focus on identifying, providing support and intervening in preventing this issues is now one of the most pressing research, clinical and policy areas.

Professor Ju-Lee Oei is a neonatologist at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW and Conjoint Professor of Paediatrics at the University of New South Wales.