Number of Babies Born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Tennessee Soars
The number of babies born to mothers addicted to opioids or anti-anxiety medication in Tennessee is soaring, according to the
Associated Press. These babies suffer the effects of
neonatal abstinence syndrome, such as tremors, abdominal pain, incessant crying and rapid breathing. In extreme cases, they also experience seizures.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville treated 33 babies for
drug dependence in 2008. That number is expected to jump to 320 this
year, the AP notes. In most cases, mothers of the babies abused
prescription drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, Valium and Xanax.
Tennessee is believed to be the first state that requires all health
care facilities to report all cases of babies born dependent on drugs,
officials say. They estimate almost 1,200 babies were born dependent on
drugs in the state in 2010 and 2011.
Every hour, a baby is born in the United States with symptoms of
opioid withdrawal, according to a study published last year in the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study found the number of pregnant women who are addicted to
opioids, and the number of infants born with opioid withdrawal symptoms,
has jumped in the past decade. An estimated 13,500 babies are born with
withdrawal symptoms each year in the United States. Many babies who
experience these symptoms must be hospitalized for weeks.
Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner is a
member of a group advocating for the Food and Drug Administration to add
a warning on prescription drug bottles about the dangers of taking
drugs during pregnancy.
