Generation Rx
Opiate addition is here, and it is massive. The In every state there are studies that are finding that heroin use and prescription drug abuse in on the rise. What is even more troubling is that even more of these addicts are children. Just when you think the story couldn’t get worse, the reports are that there is a huge increase in the number of babies born premature and addicted to the drugs that their mothers abused during pregnancy.
It is becoming an all too familiar story. Even after parents quit drugs such as heroine, babies are still being born premature, and addicted themselves. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a regular assessment in delivery rooms all over the county. Babies are born and immediately transported to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with symptoms. As required by many US state laws, when an infant is born with a drug in his or her system, the hospital is required to contact the Department of Family Services. Once an infant is released from the hospital, she or he is taken into state custody and put into foster care immediately.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a combination of problems in a newborn who has been exposed to addictive drugs while in their mother’s womb. The baby may experience symptoms within one to three days after birth, which include blotchy skin, excessive or high-pitched crying, fever, irritability, rapid breathing, seizures, sweating and vomiting.
The link between heroin and prescription opioids is becoming apparent. Users begin by taking prescription pain medications such as Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycodone. The active ingredients in these medications are structurally similar to heroin, as well as delivering a similar high. Once addicts can no longer afford pricy prescription pills, they turn to the cheaper alternative: heroin.
Treatment for newborns born with drugs in their system includes calming the distressed infants and on severe occasions, specific medications to combat the excruciating symptoms. Most cases of NAS lead to charges of child neglect against the child’s mother and the involvement of child protective services. And the odds are low that a child returns to their heroin-abusing parents. Something needs to be done to stop drug abuse before pregnancy, not just for the health of the month but to give the baby a shot at a healthy life.
If you or someone you know has a problem with drug addiction or dependence, you should seek help now before tragedy strikes. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug dependence. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.
