Born Addicts: Drug-Addicted Babies in the United States

In the United States, the number of women abusing prescription pain medications and become opioid drug addicted is growing. “They are women that have had very rough backgrounds,” says Steven Clay, DO, Addiction Specialist in Ohio. “About 80-90% of women are coming here sexually and/or physically abused. About 80-90% of our patients are mothers. Women going in and out of prison. Kids being taken away. The way addiction is treated in the United States is — we put people in prison. We think the way to treat it is to punish people.” More and more mothers are using drugs while pregnant. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the United States, the estimated number of drug-exposed infants born each year ranges from 100000 to 375000. www.yaninamanolova.com