It’s a horrifying comment on our drug-sodden society that newborn babies are coming into the world addicted. In fact they get withdrawal symptoms, as soon as mother’s blood supply from the placenta is shut off.
No, I’m not just talking irresponsible, criminal mothers, who take recreation drugs while pregnant (lots of that) but I’m also talking about doctors prescribing drugs in such huge quantities, to pregnant women, that the babies are affected (lots of that too).
How do you detox a teeny babe, just born and practicing breathing for the first time?
In certain units, I read that up to 25 percent of all babies in a neonatal intensive care unit are being treated for withdrawal. This comes from a report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), published online Jan. 30 in advance of appearing in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Major drugs of abuse include prescription painkillers such as oxycodone, codeine, morphine and methadone, the report noted, along with stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine and central nervous system depressants such as marijuana, alcohol and barbiturates.
Exposure during pregnancy is linked to a host of problems among newborns, including drug withdrawal upon birth — demonstrated by irritability, poor sucking, tremors, seizures, diarrhea, vomiting and shrill crying — and long-term issues such as birth defects, impaired growth and behavioral problems.
As I said, a very sad comment on our sick society and something which adds to the heinous crimes of drug pushers.
Legalize marijuana? Drag me to Hell first.