Study Shows Increase In Number Of Infants With NAS

A recent study by the Ohio Department of Health shows some concerning findings.

The State has seen a seven hundred and fifty percent increase in the number of babies diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome since 2004. This is due to an increase in expectant mothers usage of heroin and opioids. CEO of Muskingum Behavioral Health, Steve Carrel told us there are even issues here within the County.

“We’re seeing in Muskingum county and even here at Muskingum Behavioral Health an increasing number of pregnant women who have opioid addiction.” Said Carrel,”…If the women don’t get treatment, meaning medication assistance treatment then their baby is going to go through all of the withdraw that a heroin addict would.”

Some of the symptoms that infants express are irritability, shakiness, respiratory problems, feeding issues and even seizures in some cases. The study also stated that the average hospital stay for drug-dependent babies dropped from twenty days to just under fifteen in 2013. Carrel told us more.

“It’s both positive and negative,” Carrel explained, “Positive in the sense that they’ve reduced the amount of time that babies have to be in a hospital. Negative because there doesn’t appear to be any drop off in the near future of the number of women coming through maternity wards giving birth to babies who are addicted to the opioids.”

Carrel told us that they will always assist pregnant women struggling with addiction to find a suboxone doctor. All you have to do is make an appointment at Muskingum Behavioral Health.