The Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Creates The Newest “Crack Babies”

Newborns Are The Newest Statistic In Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic- Experiencing The Same Withdrawal As Their Parents.

All over newspapers, blogs-including this one, news stations and the internet you can find more and more articles covering the topic of the rising prescription drug abuse epidemic. This is because it is becoming a serious problem in our country and has been a major problem for Florida. The abuse of prescription drugs is becoming a common event in our culture with the ease of access to the drugs.

Medications such as Oxycontin and Vicodin which are highly addictive and arent found on the streets but can be found in your own medicine cabinet prescribed by a doctor are the newest problem. The focus though right now in the latest news of the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic is not so much about those addicted but about those not yet born. There has been a surge in babies addicted to drugs due to the rapid rise in prescription drug abuse.

The number of babies born with withdrawal syndrome has rapidly risen in the past four years. In 2006 according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; the numbers have risen from 354  babies in 2006 to 1,374 in 2010. The numbers have more than doubled and nearly tripled. The rise in newborns brought into this world having to go through withdrawal from prescription drug abuse is what some people fear as the newest “crack baby” epidemic. Most addicts and alcoholics are consumed with fear when the thought of painkiller withdrawal becomes a reality; we can only imagine what it is like for these newborns. The newborns born addicted go through what an addict would describe as withdrawal “cold turkey”. They scream, have muscle spasms and puke which are similar symptoms to those adults going through withdrawal.

The prescription drug abuse epidemic is now starting to become a common story for American citizens, the signs of addiction are clearly shown with the amount of babies born already addicted to prescription drugs. This is a sure tell sign that people are not taking their prescriptions as prescribed.

These drugs such as oxycontin, vicodin, percocet, xanax etc. are all highly addictive narcotics that should be taken as prescribed and also only prescribed when absolutely necessary. Finding an alternative treatment such as something holistic may be a much better option to taking a narcotic, especially if you are pregnant. The prescription drug abuse epidemic can be abated if doctors will be a little more cautious when prescribing and when we as consumers become a little bit more knowledgeable about what we are putting into our bodies. Painkillers and prescription meds are intense narcotics that should be taken with care.

If we as consumers decide to become more knowledgeable as a society about the effects of certain prescriptions the prescription drug abuse epidemic may slow. Also if we search for our “cures” in something more holistic and natural rather than running to a doctor for a pill everytime we ache there may be no need for most of these meds in some cases.

Either way now the prescription drug abuse epidemic isnt just affecting ourselves, its affecting those not even a part of chaotic world yet. Its time to start doing something about it.

If you or someone you know is suffering from prescription drug abuse please call 800-951-6135.