Credit: New Jersey Medical School
Dr .Salma Ali
About 1 in 20 women, or 5% of all moms-to-be, abuse illicit drugs during pregnancy. This can lead to major health problems for mother and child, including neonatal abstinence syndrome, (NAS) which is especially prevalent in New Jersey. Rates for NAS are rising to dangerous levels here as a result of the reported spike in drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NAS occurs when newborn babies experience withdrawal after being exposed to drugs such as opioids in the womb, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NAS can be extremely painful and life-threatening. Babies with NAS suffer from severe drug withdrawal symptoms that, if not identified and treated in a timely manner, can lead to seizures and even death.