Canadian journal of rural medicine : the official journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal canadien de la médecine rurale : le journal officiel de la Société de médecine rurale du Canada
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Opioid use in pregnancy is increasing globally. In northwest Ontario, rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are alarmingly high. We sought to document the increasing rates of opioid exposure during pregnancy and associated cases of NAS over a 7-year period in northwest Ontario. ⋯ Despite our continually increasing rates of opioid exposure in pregnancy, rates of NAS decreased annually and were substantially lower than those of our regional LHIN. In contrast to 2009, most opioid exposure in our region is now iatrogenic as a result of OAT. These improvements may be attributable in part to the rural community-based prenatal and addictions services developed in our catchment area.