Painkiller-addicted Babies

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that prescription drug overdose deaths in Florida are up a staggering 265 percent since 2003. It’s statistics like this that have led the White House Office on Drug Control Policy to declare prescription drug abuse the nation's fastest-growing drug problem.

Addiction and healthcare experts are seeing the problem affect a new and extremely vulnerable group. According to state health records, 635 Florida babies were born addicted to prescription drugs in the first half of 2010 alone. South Florida doctors and intensive care nurses report a dramatic uptick in babies born hooked on pills that their mothers abused while pregnant, CNN.com reports.

Babies born to moms who abused prescription painkillers during their pregnancy go through withdrawal symptoms in the same way so called “crack babies” do. The problems can range from cramps, sweating and rapid breathing to seizures.

Prescription Drug Abuse Treatment

La Paloma and other treatment facilities across the country have seen a dramatic increase is the need for prescription drug abuse treatment as the number of users (and abusers) continues to rise. Unfortunately for these affected babies, moms-to-be or new moms hooked on prescription drugs are usually reluctant to seek help because they’re afraid they’ll lose custody of their newborns. As a result, the babies don’t get the care they desperately need. For women who try to kick their habit during pregnancy, there are other risks. They can’t safely just stop using. They need to be weaned off slowly, under medical supervision, or the baby will go into withdrawal in the womb.

Prescription Drug Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of prescription drug abuse treatment, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about painkiller addiction treatment, financing or insurance.