Rise In Number Of Pregnant Women Abusing Susbstances In Tennessee
"Whether you are on prescription meds, on methadone off of meds or whether you are on illegal narcotics like heroin or something like that the baby’s still have problems."
Erlanger Neonatologist Dr. Gary Bell says neonatal abstinence syndrome due to drug abusing mothers is becoming too common in East Tennessee.
"Neurological symptoms where it will be, lot of tremors, shaking, irritability , sleep problems they have a lot of GI problems, inability to feed or they will feed too much."
Recent statistics from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse show there are nearly 100 more neonatal abstinence syndrome cases leading up to October 2014 compared to this time last year.
CADAS counselors say substance abuse among pregnant women is a major concern in our community and they even have a dedicated program to help those who are suffering.
Paul Fuchcar, Executive Director, CADAS,"They can come to us and we will put them through treatment we will take in their families, they can have children up to age 12 i think and it’s a two year program."
Fuchar says his team help women of all ages from across the Tennessee Valley struggle with substance abuse both before, during and after pregnancy.
"It’s difficult for pregnant women who are abused to drugs and alcohol because sometimes the path to get clean is that much harder."
More than twice the national average of pregnant women in Tennessee say they take prescription pain meds as their primary substance of abuse.
Prescription drug abuse is now the main cause of death in the Volunteer state ahead of car wrecks and homicides.
For more information:
http://www.cadas.org/docs/ps_outpatient.html
http://www.tn.gov/mental/A&D/
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