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More babies being born with drug addiction

By Staff Writer

Nearly 20 million Americans aged 12 or older said they used illicit drugs in 2006, according to Drug Addiction Support, a substance abuse resource site. During pregnancy, drug use can do damage to the unborn child. Women who are facing addiction are encouraged to seek help at rehabilitation facilities prior to becoming pregnant, but not everyone takes advantage of the opportunity.

Patient care supervisor Christine Ferrone at the Home Nursing Agency in Blair County says the issue is rarely addressed, according to the Altoona Mirror, a Pennsylvania news source. Many babies are born with the same addiction as their mothers and suffer similar withdrawal.

In the annual report of the activities of the county parole and probation staff, authorities said that Drug Court has helped 33 mothers detoxify during their pregnancies over the last 10 years.The program saved nearly $8 million in medical expenses for the mothers and their babies, but not everyone takes advantage of these resources.

Nearly 4 percent of women experiment with illicit drugs while carrying a child, according to the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy pregnancies. Mothers who fear harming their child through substance abuse are recommended to visit a rehabilitation facility for help.