drug-addicted newborns born in the US
New research has been done on the numbers of drug-addicted newborns born in the US.
Number of Drug-addicted Newborns Increases!
Let’s gets the binkies out as fast as we can! More Drug-addicted babies are born everyday!
According to the Associated Press of Yahoo! News, more opiate-addicted babies are born in the US everyday. From our knowledge at Binky patrol on this subject; these special smaller infants need smaller blankets, neutral colors soothe them and they stay in the NICU’s longer than the average premature baby.
According to ag.ny.gov, the New York State Attorney General and the I-STOP Act, more than 5.5 Million people tested positive through blood and urine samples of consuming opiate-related drugs in 2009. Although the exact statistics are not known, “the number of babies born with Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome [has] more than doubled to almost 12,000 between 2003, and 2009. (I-STOP, page 10). According to Yahoo! News, “more than 13,000 U.S. infants were affected in 2009.”
NPR.org states that newborns born drug-addicted in the worst cases, have seizures. “Doctors who study this field aren’t sure what the future holds for babies born drug-addicted to pain-killers… the trend is just too new.” (NPR.org)
Medline Plus from NLM.NIH.gov, calls this disorder, which happens in drug-addicted newborns, “Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.” Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is caused when the mother of the unborn baby takes one or more of many addictive drugs. Drugs of which pass through the placenta to the baby; both become addicted to said abused substance. “At birth the baby is still dependent on the drug. Because the baby is no longer getting the drug after birth symptoms of withdrawal occur.”
Possible Complications may include; a low birth weight and a small head along with being born prematurely, possible defects and deformations, or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). (Medline Plus)
A scholarly journal at the Archive of Pediatrics states that Neonatal withdrawal syndrome does not have to occur from only illegal drugs. Prescription drugs such as Anti-Depressants, when abused may cause this in newborns, when taken during pregnancy.
What can you do? Well since you are reading this on the Binky patrol website, you can make blankets for these tiny babies. Neutral colors and soft fabric help calm them, to the best of our knowledge. Since they have smaller heads, smaller hats help. Always remember to use acrylic yarns, as babies and young children may be allergic to the fibers in wools.
Sources:
- Yahoo News, Author Lindsey Tanner, “Number of US newborns with drug withdrawal triples”
- http://news.yahoo.com/number-us-newborns-drug-withdrawal-triples-201814938.htlm
- Ag.ny.gov, Office of the New York State Attorney General, “INTERNET SYSTEM for TRACKING OVER-PRESCRIBING (I-STOP) A Proposal Addressing New York’s Prescription Drug Abuse and Drug Diversion Epidemic”
http://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/press-releases/2012/ISTOP%20REPORT%20FINAL%201.10.12.pdf
- NPR.org, Author Dailia Colon, “Number of Newborns Addicted to Pain-killers Rising”
- http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133805289/number-of-newborns-addicted-to-painkillers-rising
- Medline Plus, Authors: Kimberly G Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., “Neonatal abstinence syndrome”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007313.htm
Source: Archive of Pediatrics, Authors: Rachel Levinson-Castiel, MD; Paul Merlob, MD; Nehama Linder, MD; Lea Sirota, MD; Gil Klinger, MD , “Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome After In Utero Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Term Infants”
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/160/2/173#AUTHINFO