THE epidemic announces itself even at birth. In the US, the number of babies born with an addiction to opioid painkillers has quadrupled in just 15 years.
A report by the US Centers for Disease Control analysed cases reported in 28 states from 1999 to 2013. Over that time, the number of addicted babies rose from 1.5 to 6 per 1000 hospital births. The highest rate was in West Virginia, with 33 cases per 1000 births (MMWR, doi.org/bn7w).
The babies are born with neonatal abstinence syndrome – the result of exposure in the womb to opioids such as heroin, methadone or the common painkiller oxycontin. Symptoms include tremors, seizures, feeding difficulties and an unstable body temperature. Its effects on long-term development are unclear.
This article appeared in print under the headline “Opioids hit babies”