Babies Suffer from Effects of Opioid Epidemic

Jan 19,2018

Some of the victims of the opioid epidemic are obvious: the addicted, their friends and family, those struggling with the loss of loved ones due to addiction. The most vulnerable victims of the epidemic are the ones who never had a say in the matter: infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This is a condition that newborn babies experience after they are born if they have been exposed to opioids while in the womb.

The number of children in the U.S. born with NAS has quadrupled over the past 15 years. According to the CDC, about six out of every 1,000 infants born in the U.S. are diagnosed with NAS. That’s one baby every half hour born with the disease. However, the actual rate might actually be higher, considering that not all states collect this data regularly. In places hit particularly hard by the epidemic, such as rural Tennessee, hospitals have had to open special wards just to care for the infants.

After they are born, these babies experience severe symptoms of withdrawal, including tremors and seizures. They must receive special care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Even after they are released, some of these children must continue to be treated with medication and therapy. Children with NAS may also experience developmental delays later in life.

Help for Children with NAS

Some measures have been taken to help infants with NAS. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery ACT (CARA) of 2016 was amended to to include assistance for infants with NAS. This includes a requirement that states receiving the grant money provide treatment for NAS infants.

“More needs to be done to protect these most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic. The drug companies who have contributed to this public health crisis must be held accountable,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured by a drug and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.