Health officials call the condition Neonatal Abstinence [ab-stuh-nuhns] Syndrome (NAS), which is when a baby is born dependent on legally prescribed or illegally obtained drugs used by the mother during her pregnancy. The babies can suffer from fever, seizures, vomiting, hyperactive reflexes and inability to feed, among other problems. The Department of Children Services investigates cases of children born dependent on drugs. The department is creating advisory boards and committees to not only monitor the spread of drug dependent babies being born, but also come up with ways to prevent prescription drug abuse.
The state has changed laws in an effort to better track babies born drug dependent. It started January 1, 2013 and doctors are now required to notify the Tennessee Department of Health when they deliver babies who are suffering from NAS. The information is then tracked by county, gender and how the mother got the drugs.
The Safe Harbor Act of 2013 has become law. The law allows a pregnant woman who has drug abuse issues to seek and stay in treatment for addiction without the fear of losing their child. If the woman’s doctor determines that before the end of the 20th week of pregnancy that she is abusing prescription drugs and putting her unborn child in danger, the doctor must encourage the mother to seek counseling, treatment and other assistance that is available.
In turn, if the woman begins drug treatment before her next doctor’s appointment, does what her treatment program recommends and continues prenatal care, the DCS cannot try to take custody of the baby. That is as long as there are not other factors not related to the prescription drug abuse. DCS can still attempt to take custody of a baby if the department determines that the child is not being properly cared for by the mother or caregiver.
