The figures are heartbreaking. An estimated 32,000 babies were born in 2014 with an opioid addiction. These tiny, often underweight newborns, endure tremors, convulsions, breathing problems and a host of other horrific symptoms. Tragically, their suffering may last up to six months after birth.
This an epidemic spiraling out of control. Since 2004, the number of newborns with these dreadful problems has jumped nearly five-fold (433%), according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Every 15 minutes in America a new opioid addicted infant enters the world.
This data reflects state statistics reported to the CDC though 2014. The CDC admits its data collection is not uniform and case definitions and state monitoring are often inconsistent. As a result, there has been no official data published in the last six years, a distressing reflection of the lack of national concern.
The medical term for these addicted infants is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Babies experience withdrawal from drugs, most commonly opioids, they were exposed to in the womb. Most babies exhibit symptoms 24 to 48 years after birth, reports Stanford Children's Health.
Some infants, however, may not show withdrawal symptoms until 5-to-10 days after birth, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Infants are often undernourished and may need IV fluids to remain hydrated. A tangle of tubes and monitors snake through their hospital cribs, a heart-wrenching sight.
A number of these little ones need medications to treat their withdrawal symptoms. Once signs of withdrawal subside, the amount of medicine is slowly decreased. This helps wean babies from the drug introduced into their bloodstreams by their mothers.
The pain and agony of these stricken newborns is unimaginable. Treatments vary and the long-term effects often include delayed mental development. No cure exists, but it can be prevented if the mother stops using drugs before pregnancy or as soon as she learns she is pregnant.
Overall abuse of opioids, both prescription and non-prescription, is soaring. In 2019, 50,000 people died from opioid-involved overdoses. The addiction to heroine and fentanyl, both classified as opioids, impacted 625,000 Americans in 2017. Prescription opioid abuse effected 1.7 million people.
The runaway use of opioids by all Americans helps explain why so many mothers are giving birth to NAS infants. As a consequence, hospital expenses to treat these infants are climbing at an alarming rate.
The National Institute for Children's Health reports a seven-fold increase in neonatal intensive care stays for these afflicted babies. Rates of opioid use disorder at delivery more than quadrupled during 1999-2014, according to the CDC. This is the most recent data available.
Hospital costs for treating this misfortunate babies are exploding. Since 2004, the annual hospital expenses for treating these infants has risen from $90.9 million to $563 million in 2014, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That a 524% increase in costs.
The dramatic hike is a result of the extended hospitalization for NAS infants. The average length of a hospital stay for a baby with NAS is 16.9 days, compared 3.1 days for a healthy newborn. The hospital costs, calculated in 2014 dollars, are $66,700 for the neonatal care for one infant.
For decades, child welfare agencies and neonatal care units separated the mother from their infants. It was a form of punishment for their callous disregard for their baby's health. However, treatment is evolving and new studies suggests that separation may be counterproductive.
"Babies need their mothers," says John McCarthy, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California (Davis), who has worked 40 years with pregnant women undergoing drug treatment. He adds mothers can help minimize withdrawal for babies exposed to opioids.
In San Antonio, the epicenter of NAS in Texas, a partnership between University of Texas Health's School of Nursing and local nonprofit Crosspoint, Inc., shows promise for uniting mother and baby in a home-treatment setting. Babies stay with mothers who are undergoing treatment for their addiction.
'It's very traumatic to have a child taken away," says Lisa Cleveland, associate professor of the UT Health School of Nursing who spearheaded the partnership with Crosspoint. "The idea is to stop the cycle of trauma."
Casa Mia opened in 2018 with 20 beds and within a few months was fully occupied. There is now a waiting list and Crosspoint and UT Health's School of Nursing are raising more than $3 million to break ground this year on a Women's Wellness Campus to double the number of beds at Casa Mia.
The expansion will include on-site nursery for newborns as well as private rooms for the mother and baby once the child is discharged. In addition, there will be a primary care clinic plus programs for behavioral health, parenting and more, according to an article in San Antonio magazine.
This approach is gaining momentum in several cities across the country. Public-private partnerships are preferred to government solutions. Removing the stigma from drug addicted mothers will facilitate better outcomes for both baby and mom.
But to stem the tide of opioid addicted babies, the key is early intervention and increased awareness of the medical issues caused by drug use before-and-after pregnancy. Treating the problem after the fact is costly and is too late for the newborns who suffer unbearable side effects.
When you read about the trillions of dollars being spent in Washington, examine the details closely. See if politicians really care about these babies. Where is the funding to help build new facilities such as Casa Mia? Or to promote public service campaigns about drugs and pregnancy? Or early intervention?
These questions demand answers not pathetic sympathy and emotional platitudes. No one is standing up for these innocents who are unable to cry out for help. It is a disheartening commentary about the priorities of the political class. We the people must demand more be done.
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