Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
The impact of opioid misuse on fetal and pediatric populations: a systematic umbrella review
Abstract Introduction The opioid crisis has emerged as a significant public health emergency with far-reaching consequences extending beyond adult populations to fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and emerging adults. While the majority of opioid research focuses on adults, growing evidence highlights unique impacts on pediatric populations through both direct exposure and indirect effects via caregiver opioid involvement. This umbrella review aimed to systematically synthesize existing evidence on the impact …