HELP FOR CHILDREN BORN WITH OPIOID ADDICTION


The sad effects of the opioid epidemic have ravaged the lives of people across the country and while extensive research has been conducted on opioid addiction in adults, the medical community is just starting to uncover how opioid dependency at birth can negatively affect children for decades.


If your child, or a child you are caring for, was born with an addiction to opioids, you may eligible to file a claim against drug manufacturers.  Opioid addicted baby claims can give children and families harmed by newborn opioid addiction the means to seek compensation for damage caused by opioid and industry executives’ failure to warn patients about the high risk for addiction.


1-800-LAW-FIRM understands the severe emotional and financial impact that caring for children affected by opioids has on families.  We can help parents, or the legal guardians – siblings, grandparents, aunts, foster parents, and other caregivers – file a claim on behalf of children who were born dependent on opioids and suffered damages.  Contact our team by filling out the form for a no-obligation, free claim review. 

REQUEST A FREE CLAIM REVIEW

Babies born to mothers who used opioids while pregnant are typically diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).  This condition typically occurs when a woman is prescribed opioids to treat chronic pain, develops an addiction, and later becomes pregnant. Exposure in utero causes the fetus to become dependent on opioids and suffer from withdrawal upon birth.  The withdrawal symptoms are acute and long-ranging, resulting in significant suffering in the first months of life as well as ongoing developmental and growth delays. 


WHAT IS NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME?

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (also called NAS) is a group of conditions caused when a baby withdraws from certain drugs he’s exposed to in the womb before birth. NAS is most often caused when a woman takes drugs called opioids during pregnancy.


When you take these drugs during pregnancy, they can pass through the placenta and cause serious problems for your baby. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. 


WHAT ARE SIGNS OF NAS? 

Signs of NAS can be different for every baby. Most happen within 3 days (72 hours) of birth, but some may happen right after birth or not until a few weeks after birth. They can last from 1 week to 6 months after birth. 

Signs may include: 

  • Body shakes (tremors), seizures (convulsions), overactive reflexes (twitching) and tight muscle tone
  • Poor feeding or sucking or slow weight gain
  • Breathing problems, including breathing really fast
  • Trouble sleeping and lots of yawning


WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN NAS CAUSE?

Babies with NAS may have health conditions that need treatment in the newborn intensive care unit (also called NICU) after birth. In addition to having withdrawal signs, babies with NAS are at increased risk of:

  • Low birthweight
  • Jaundice
  • Seizures
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (also called SIDS).


HOW IS YOUR BABY TESTED FOR NAS?

Your baby’s provider can use these tests to see if your baby has NAS:

  • NAS scoring system. With this system, your baby’s provider uses points to grade how severe your baby’s withdrawal is. Your baby’s provider uses the score to decide what kind of treatment your baby needs. 
  • Urine and meconium tests to check for drugs. Meconium is your baby’s first bowel movement.

Is filing a NAS/NOWS lawsuit possible?

1-800-LAW-FIRM is currently accepting claims filed by family and caregivers on behalf of babies and children affected by NAS from the opioid crisis.  These lawsuits are being filed on behalf of babies against drug companies for pushing doctors to overprescribe opioids, thereby over-supplying opioids to the community.

How do I know if I qualify to file a lawsuit?

You can see if you qualify to file a lawsuit by doing one of the following:

  • Complete the form on this page
  • Text the word NOW to 31399
  • Call 1-800-LAW-FIRM to speak with a member of our team
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