In recent years, an alarming amount of babies are being born with an addiction to opioids. According to the CDC, the number of children born addicted to opioids has tripled between 1999 and 2013. Children born addicted could go through withdrawal syndrome and could die, or suffer serious conditions brought on from being addicted. Withdrawn syndrome in infants is known as neonatal abstinence syndrome. This can lead to developmental delays, undeveloped livers, breathing problems, and even behavioral problems. While being born addicted is dangerous, there are other health concerns that arise when pregnant women use opioids that can affect the child before they’re even born. Preterm or premature births are more likely, as well as birth defects and low birth weights.
Because of this rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome, there has been legal action taken. Thousands of women have been prescribed opioids while pregnant. This makes them eligible for what’s referred to as a Neonatal abstinence syndrome lawsuit. Thousands of victims have filed these lawsuits against big pharmaceutical companies. They claim these drug makers knowingly downplayed the dangers of dependency of opioid painkillers. Many of the plaintiffs of these cases are winning, which is why many states are refusing to settle with opioid manufacturers.
Why Are Drug Makers Liable?
Today, we know the dangers of opioids. Drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl are meant to be used for extreme and chronic pain. Normally, being prescribed to patients with a terminal illness or after serious surgery. However, drug makers encouraged doctors to prescribe these drugs for very minor issues as well. Things like headaches and back pain were being remedied with hydrocodone, instead of something more appropriate like Advil. Because these people were told to take these heavily addictive drugs, casually, they developed a chemical dependency on them. Since the risks were underplayed, doctors prescribed these drugs to pregnant women suffering from the everyday discomforts of being pregnant. This eventually caused them to be addicted. Due to the drug maker’s negligence, millions of people suffer from addiction and put their children at risk of being born addicted.
Have You Been Harmed From a Dangerous Drug?
If you have been injured from a harmful medical product? Dangerous drugs and medical devices harm thousands of people each year. If you have been injured due to a pharmaceutical or medical manufacturer’s negligence, you need an attorney to recover damages for the pain and suffering you have experienced. Villarreal and Begum know exactly how to fight these companies to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at our office or contact us online. We are available day and night to set up your free consultation.
The Villarreal & Begum, LAW GUNS dedicates their time and effort towards helping people in Texas find justice for personal negligence encountered while living their normal, everyday lives.