Drug Companies Have Created Opioid Addicted Babies

According to Reuters, every 19 minutes, an opioid addicted baby is born in America. [1] How did this epidemic get started?

In the mid-1990s, the American Pain Society aggressively pushed the concept of pain as the fifth vital sign. [2] Half a decade later the Joint Commission jumped on board and emphasized that physicians must accept and respect patient self-reporting of pain. [3]

In the early 2000s, some drug companies funded publications and physician presentations to encourage the expanded use of opioids and other medications for pain control. [4] According to a recent CNN report, the Joint Commission published a book in 2000 for purchase by doctors as part of required continuing education seminars. That book cited studies claiming “there is no evidence that addiction is a significant issue when persons are given opioids for pain control.” [5]

According to Brian F Mandell, MD, PhD “… [P]ain control has become a measure of patient satisfaction, and thus potentially another physician and institutional rating score that can be linked to reimbursement.” [6]

It is sickening to think about an innocent newborn having to go through withdrawal symptoms of uncontrolled vomits, sweats and diarrhea. These are only a few of the symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) that these babies have. Other symptoms of Opioid-Induced NAS are High-Pitched Cry, Tremors, Convulsions, and Dehydration.

At Oliver Law Firm, we are taking a position against these drug companies. Call us at 479-202-5200 if you have questions or just drop by. We are located just off I-49 in Benton County Arkansas. Our address is 3606 Southern Hills Blvd, Suite 200, Rogers, AR 72758.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/baby-opioids/

[2] American Pain Society Quality of Care Committee. Quality improvement guidelines for the treatment of acute pain and cancer pain. JAMA 1995; 274;1874-1880

[3] Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2016 June;83(6);400-401

[4] Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2016 June;83(6);400-401

[5] Moghe S. Opioid history: from ‘wonder drug’ to abuse epidemic. www.cnn.com/2016/05/12/health/opioid-addiction-history/. Accessed May 16,2016

[6] Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.  2016 June;83(6);400-401