Mothers with Substance Use Disorders and Their Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Music Therapy to Address Their Diverse Needs

Females undergoing substance abuse treatment have unique needs, especially if they were pregnant while engaging in substance use. Similarly, their infants often experience the effects of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), going through withdrawal after birth and exhibiting difficult-to-manage behaviors. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to review the diverse needs of mothers who are undergoing substance abuse treatment and their infants who have NAS and (2) to provide an overview of evidence-based empirical research regarding the use of music therapy as a nonpharmacological treatment to address their diverse needs, particularly as a dyad. A review of relevant empirical music therapy research literature indicates that current techniques and protocols for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and premature infants receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit might be effective in treating mothers with SUD and infants with NAS. Music therapists using these protocols can address mothers’ mental health needs, infants’ NAS needs, and appropriate mother–infant interactions and bonding through co-treatment.