Identification of neonatal abstinence syndrome in the community: Infants born into Canada's opioid crisis.

Opioid use in Canada continues to rise. Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at high risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Signs and symptoms of withdrawal may not develop before the infant is discharged home. Health professionals may be falling short in adequately identifying and supporting opioid-exposed infants and their families. In the absence of universal toxicology screening, nurses in the community play an instrumental role in assessing, referring, and supporting these families.