Do you have questions about filing an opioid addiction lawsuit in Louisiana on behalf of your newborn child? Many people throughout the nation are being ravaged by opioid addiction. But it’s even worse if you are pregnant and addicted to opioids.
Why? Because opioid addition can cause multiple health and behavioral problems for your baby. Your baby may be born with a syndrome called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which causes both health and behavioral issues. Your baby may be born prematurely, which can also lead to health complications.
Don’t Go Off Opioids During Pregnancy If You’re Addicted
So what should you do if you’re pregnant and addicted to opioids? You might think quitting is the best choice. Don’t, without talking to your doctor or another health care provider. Going “cold turkey” (as quitting abruptly is commonly called) could cause even more problems for the developing fetus, which might be forced to endure withdrawal symptoms in the womb.
So what should you do? The first step is talking to a qualified health care provider.
Therapies
The providers may recommend therapies. There are two predominant therapies for addicted people. One is called medication-assisted therapy (MAT) and one is known as opioid-assisted therapy (OAT).
The drugs you are prescribed could be methadone, buprenorphine, or naloxone. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the dosage you need and tell you how to use it.
Counseling
Another step if you’re pregnant and addicted is counseling. Your health care provider may recommend individual or group drug counseling, or both.
Counseling can help you develop skills to overcome the desire to take drugs and help you learn how to manage pregnancy. It can also provide strategies for eliminating situations in which you will be more prone to take drugs.
Consult Attorney Bart Bernard About Filing an Opioid Addiction Lawsuit
Opioid addiction can occur as a result of opioid manufactures not warning mothers, mothers-to-be and their doctors about the risks of addiction. Bart Bernard is an experienced Louisiana attorney who has assisted opioid-addicted mothers and their families whose children have been born with NAS or other difficulties related to addition.
At the Bart Bernard Injury Lawyers, we will handle your situation with care and concern, and will fight tenaciously to get you maximum compensation for the harm suffered by you and your child. Our initial consultation regarding your case is free and we have two offices in Baton Rouge and Lafayette for your convenience. Talk to Bart to see if you are eligible to file an opioid addiction lawsuit. “Click Bart First, Call Bart First™”!
Additional Resources:
- March of Dimes. Prescription opioids during pregnancy. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/prescription-opioids-during-pregnancy.aspx
- SAMHSA. Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
