# Locally led study helps opioid-exposed newborns recover faster **Published:** 2026-07-20T20:28:04.000Z **Source:** [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/07/20/locally-led-study-helps-opioid-exposed-newborns-recover-faster/) **Republished from:** [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/07/20/locally-led-study-helps-opioid-exposed-newborns-recover-faster/) (Authorized by publisher (with credit)) **Canonical:** https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/07/20/locally-led-study-helps-opioid-exposed-newborns-recover-faster/ By Melissa Patrick, [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net) · July 20, 2026  A major new study shows that individualized treatment for babies born with opioid withdrawal can speed recovery and reduce time spent in the hospital, according to a **Norton Children’s Hospital** news release. The clinical trial, led by Lori A. Devlin, D.O., neonatologist with Norton Children’s Hospital and a professor in the **University of Louisville** School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, found a customized approach to treating babies with opioid withdrawal helps them recover faster than current standardized practices. More than 100 researchers across the country contributed to the study, which was recently published in the _[Journal of the American Medical Association](https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjamanetwork.com%2Fjournals%2Fjama%2Ffullarticle%2F2848411&data=05%7C02%7CMelissa.patrick%40uky.edu%7C0dea156d2eef42af0fd708dee66ab077%7C2b30530b69b64457b818481cb53d42ae%7C0%7C0%7C639201543137483632%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=z4GB0cGlG%2B38RL5PtUuSZ43KqT9BYuIM6Cam9bzGgSw%3D&reserved=0)_. According to the release, over 1,000 Kentucky babies are born every year with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). The syndrome can develop when mothers ingest opioids during pregnancy, causing the infant to experience withdrawal symptoms after birth. Those symptoms can include irritability, difficulty with feeding and sleeping concerns. The study compared two treatments: a fixed medication schedule and a symptom-based approach that adjusts care based on the severity of each infant’s symptoms. Results showed babies treated with the symptom-based approach recovered faster. When this individualized treatment was combined with the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model of care — which includes family involvement and holding and swaddling the infants before prescribing medication — infants with NOWS left the hospital an average of 2.3 days sooner. Notably, 65% of babies treated with this approach did not need scheduled opioid medications and gradual weaning. “These findings confirm that ESC, combined with symptom-based dosing, helps babies recover faster and reduces unnecessary medication exposure,” Devlin said in the release. “This work represents a true team effort involving researchers, nurses, administrators and families across the nation, including our team at **Norton Children’s Research Institute** and the **UofL Department of Pediatrics**.” Nearly two dozen hospitals nationwide participated in the study, according to the release, including neonatal intensive care units at Norton Children’s Hospital, **Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital** and **UofL Hospital**. The study builds on more than a decade of research aimed at improving care for infants with NOWS. Devlin previously led the ESC-NOW trial that showed using the family-centered ESC approach reduced hospital stays by about a week and decreased the need for medication from 52% to 19%. “This research is actively changing how babies with NOWS are treated around the world,” Devlin said in the release. “Our team is currently conducting another multicenter study to determine the best type of medication for NOWS.” ## Sources - [Kentucky Health News](https://kyhealthnews.net/2026/07/20/locally-led-study-helps-opioid-exposed-newborns-recover-faster/)