Born An Addict: Research Shows More Babies Are Being Born Dependent on Drugs

Research shows a continuous spike in drug-dependent babies being born due to the current pain pill and heroin abuse epidemic taking place nationwide. As a result, it is becoming more common for babies to be born with a drug dependency, according to USA Today.

A recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that admission of drug dependent babies to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) have almost quadrupled from 2004 to 2013. Data from the study showed admissions jumped from seven per 1,000 admissions to 27 per 1,000 admissions, According to Vanderbilt University researchers, the issue of babies needing treatment for being born drug dependent accounts for $1.5 billion a year in health care costs.

According to research, rates are highest among the region where Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky are located; these states were hit the hardest and have seen a significant increase where hospitalizations for drug-dependent newborns increased by 48% from 2013 to 2014.

Babies who are born drug dependent usually endure immense pain and suffering. Including vomiting, diarrhea, feeding difficulties, fevers, and seizures. They are also very sensitive to noise and light, therefore NICUs must be in dark and quiet areas. Treatment for drug-dependent babies includes decreasing doses of morphine and ensuring comfort by swaddling or rocking the baby.

Unfortunately babies who are born drug dependent enter the world going through a slow withdrawal as their first real world experience.

“The seemingly never-ending increase every year is so frustrating to see. It’s a horrible thing to spend the first days or your life in agony,” says Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, quoted by USA Today.

Research has discovered the significant increase in painkillers being prescribed to pregnant woman, as well as the rest of the nation, contributes to increasing rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The region of south U.S. has ten of the highest prescribing states, and it is also the region with the most cases of NAS.

It has been suggested that drug treatment for pregnant women is not up to par, according to data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Less than 2,000 of their 11,000 treatment facilities provide services for pregnant women.

“In many communities, women are left with very few options,” says Stephen Patrick, assistant professor of pediatrics and health policy at Vanderbilt University, according to USA Today.

 

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