The problem with prescription medication abuse is one that does not merely affect people struggling with dependence, but may even have consequences for newborn babies. In fact, the number of newborns that struggle with neonatal abstinence syndrome throughout the country is increasing, more than doubling per 1,000 hospital births. That is hardly surprising. Especially if we look at the rate with which American abuse prescription opioid drugs, it is statistically likely that pregnant women would also be abusing their pain relievers.

The Financial Cost Associated with Abuse

Especially now that healthcare costs have become an increasingly divisive subject and people are looking to cut costs everywhere, newborns that struggle with neonatal abstinence syndrome due to opioid medication costs the taxpayers a total of $720 million every year according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Compare that to $190 million in 2000, and it is obvious that this is not just a serious problem, but a rapidly increasing problem as well.

Understanding the Problem with these Newborns

It is important to understand that while media outlets refer to these newborns as “addicted babies”, we cannot qualify these newborns as dependent in the way that we have defined addiction. Addiction as it is clinically defined today means that the person continues to compulsively use drugs or alcohol, despite the fact that he or she knows that it has negative consequences for themselves and the people around them. This does not qualify newborns because they A) do not actively use these substances and B) are unaware of the negative consequences. This is why experts use the term NAS (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome) instead of addiction.

What are the Immediate Issues with NAS?

The immediate effects of the withdrawal depend upon what substance the mother ingested during pregnancy. Some of the symptoms may include vomiting, hyperactivity, excessive high-pitched crying, tremors and seizures. Babies struggling with opiate withdrawal symptoms receive medication such as methadone in order to wean them off the substance. This is something that is not only controversial, but also very costly. A baby spending the day in the neonatal intensive care unit may cost upwards of $1,200. This is without any additional medication.

Why Do these Babies Develop NAS?

The development of NAS is straightforward. Most of the substances that a woman ingests during pregnancy is going to travel through the bloodstream and will affect the baby in some way. This includes everything from food, to caffeine, to nicotine, to prescription medication. This might affect the appearance and behavior of the newborn baby once he or she is born.

The problem is that if the mother continues to abuse prescription opioids during her pregnancy, these particles also make it to the fetus. This means that just as adults do, the developing child becomes accustomed to having these substances available. After birth, by effectively cutting off the “supply”, means that those babies who develop NAS will go through many of the same withdrawal symptoms as adults would. Because we are talking about an infant who cannot understand what is going on, the results might be even more traumatic and impactful for the young baby than it would be for an adult.

Why this is a Serious Problem

One of the main problems with women continuing to use prescription opioid painkillers (or any type of illicit substances) during their pregnancy is not just that it causes temporary distress for the newborn; in fact, use throughout pregnancy may cause permanent damage to the child, damage that is irreversible. This may include birth defects or behavioral problems. These may be obvious right away, or take years to develop. Some of the more serious issues include:

• Learning disabilities – Toddlers who were born with NAS may experience learning disabilities because of two different dynamics. The first is that the dependence itself may lead to mental retardation and learning disabilities. The second is that an environment where drug use is standard is not conducive to a healthy upbringing. Oftentimes, this means a lack of attention, parental instability and poor nutrition. These are all problems that may lead to learning disabilities later in life.
• Birth defects and diseases – Even occasional use may lead to birth defects that will never improve. This might include clubfoot, cerebral palsy, congenital heart defects and clef palate. It might also mean that the child requires constant medical treatment, will have trouble socializing later in life, has mobility problems and suffers from learning issues. If the mother uses needles to inject these substances, it opens up the risk to the baby having hepatitis or HIV.
• Emotional problems – Studies have shown that toddlers who are born with NAS are not as likely to bond with the adult that is responsible for their care. Chicago’s Center for Perinatal Addiction also found that these same toddlers often became far more frustrated at a faster rate than those who are not born with these issues. While it is unclear whether we can attribute this to neurological impairments/damage or psychological issues; what is clear is that it is a serious issue.
• Behavioral problems – Toddlers born with NAS may suffer from behavioral problems. These may include attention deficit disorder (ADD), abrupt changes in mood and hyperactivity. Environment again plays an important role here, if the parents cease using or an incident removes the toddlers from the neglectful circumstances, it may help in development.

What Needs to Change?

The problem is that as more and more people continue to use prescription opioid medication, statistically speaking, the chances of pregnant mothers using, also increases. While improving education for pregnant women is a great idea, it is important to understand that addiction defies education. At that point, the only thing left to do is help the mother deal with the problem and help her live a sober life.

Unless the prescription drug abuse epidemic slows down and fewer people have access to these substances, chances are that we are going to see the number of neonatal withdrawal cases increase in the next few years. While it is important that women know that even the smallest misstep might lead to lifelong problems for their unborn child, oftentimes, addiction is too powerful to overcome even the motherly instincts to take care of the unborn child. That is why drug rehabilitation is necessary for these women.