Rural Issue

Opioid addicted babies increasing in rural areas

A University of Michigan study says the number rural babies suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms is dramatically increasing.

The study found about five out of every 1,000 urban newborns suffered drug withdrawal symptoms while in rural areas it was almost eight per 1,000.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says it’s an issue nationwide, but not one without hope.  “Treatment can in fact help pregnant women who are dealing with addition to opioids and it can reduce the likelihood that their children will have adverse effects when they’re born.”

But, he says the mothers have to be willing to accept treatment and in rural areas that can be more difficult to find or is not available.

The Obama administration’s Rural America Opioid Initiative, carried out by USDA, has worked to bring more awareness to the issue in rural America.

During his campaign, President-elect Trump said he’d expand access to prescription drug abuse treatment and incentivize state and local governments to mandate treatment.

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