Pain and Opioids in Early Life: Long-Term Consequences for Pain Sensitivity and Neurodevelopment

The last decades have seen a growing number of infants - especially those born preterm - exposed to pain in early life. While it is now widely recognized that newborn infants are capable of experiencing pain, this vulnerable population receives 7-17 painful exposures daily - with less than half associated with any form of pain relief.

Research has focused on optimizing treatment to diminish the immediate physiological response to pain. In neonates, however, early life exposure to opioids (either pre- or postnatally) - and subsequent opioid withdrawal - lead to discomfort with acute signs like tremors, excessive crying, reduced feeding, and even seizures.

It is well established that exposure to pain and opioids in early life leads to long-lasting alterations in pain sensitivity, brain development, cognitive functioning, and response to analgesia. In this session, expert panelists will guide the audience through existing and novel insights into the effects of pain and opioid exposure in early life. By discussing both clinical and preclinical evidence, this workshop will give a comprehensive and translational overview of where the field currently stands, and where the next big steps should be made.