Florida Launches New Initiative on Newborns Exposed to Prescription Drugs
Florida is launching a new initiative to tackle the growing problem of newborns exposed to prescription drugs, the Associated Press
reports. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi held a press conference
Friday with the Department of Children and Families and the Department
of Health to announce the new program.
In February a task force
of doctors, public health experts and social workers in Florida
released a report designed to combat the growing problem of babies born
to mothers who are addicted to prescription drugs. The report found more
than 1,560 babies born in Florida in 2011 were diagnosed with symptoms
of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). These babies often spend three
weeks in neonatal intensive care, with a cost as high as $53,400 per
baby. In contrast, the typical hospital cost for a healthy newborn is
$9,500.
NAS babies suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, abdominal
pain, incessant crying, rapid breathing, and sometimes seizures, the
report notes.
The task force made recommendations in the areas of prevention,
intervention and best practices, and treatment. It recommended that
hospitals be required to report babies born with symptoms of NAS, as
they do with babies born with infectious diseases such as measles and
tuberculosis. The group wants to help treatment facilities reach more
women, and recommended considering new laws to offer pregnant women
immunity for seeking substance abuse treatment.
In April, state officials launched a new website, BornDrugFreeFL.com
and a 1-877-233-5656 helpline, to raise awareness about babies being
born exposed to prescription drugs. The campaign is designed to educate
expectant mothers about the importance of discussing prescription drug
use with their doctors, and to offer the women assistance. The campaign
is being advertised through billboards across the state.
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