Note to readers: Read the stories from our special report, "Born Addicted", exclusively in The News-Press today, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2011 and Monday, Dec. 20, 20011. The project stories will be published on our website, news-press.com, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2001.

We hope today's (Sunday, Dec. 19, 2011) print exclusive front page story in The News-Press about babies who are addicted to prescription drugs should make any reasonable and caring person exclaim, "Oh, goodness no."

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is real and it's out of control in our community. It's a small part of the greater epidemic of prescription drug abuse, which is a plague in our nation for people of all ages.

In this case, NAS harms the smallest and most vulnerable among us: our newborns. These babies are born and soon begin to experience symptoms of withdrawal, such as high-pitched crying, diahrrea, and tremors.

They are junkies who never had a choice in their addiction.

However, these aren't "crack babies" of the 1980s and 1990s. This is far more insidious.

These drugs get into the fetal system, affect babies' metabolism and harm the brain.

Treatment can last weeks and it includes babies being given "fixes" of drugs and slowly getting weaned off them.

In many cases documented by The News-Press, their mothers are suffering serious pain or they are working to wean themselves off their substance abuse.

This problem is so new that we have no idea yet how badly these childrens' neonatal addiction will have harmed them.

That's the great travesty.

It's easy to want to throw the book at the mothers.

And, in a few cases, they deserve it.

However, in far more cases, what's needed is education, counseling and treatment. Our research has found that too many medical professionals are not or refuse to be aware of the problem.

We find inconsistencies in tracking NAS cases.

A task force made up of medical professionals, pain clinics and law enforcement, among others has formed to deal with this problem.

That's commendable as are the efforts of hospitals and medical professionals who have been treating these babies.

Lee Memorial Health System gave tremendous access to our journalists, which showed how hard-working and compassionate these medical professionals are. This includes The Children's Hospital employees, such as Dr. William Liu, medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit and Michelle Waddell, director of neonatal intensive care unit services.

Based on conversations with them, mothers and our research, we include today nine recommendations for confronting NAS.

While the problem may be big and growing, as Waddel says, a life saved and protected is one of those "little wins."

Our little ones deserve it.

Our Recommendations for confronting NAS:

1. End denial that this is a problem and start recognizing that is a part of the growing prescription medicine addiction epidemic. This includes medical professionals and parents.

2. Support a new local task force dedicated to working on this issue. The group plans to meet again after the new year (see a description of its findings in Frank Gluck's adjoining story).

3. Educate medical professionals because not everyone knows what NAS is and all neonatal medical professional should be trained to diagnose and treat it. Doctors should also be mindful of dosage, refills and usage, because many mothers interviewed said no one told them about the effect their prescription drug use would have on their pregnancy.

4. Include prenatal drug testing to be able to detect problems in the future.

5. Keep count and report the number of women who are pregnant and addicted to drugs.

6. Start a campaign to educate women of child-bearing age and the community at large.

7. Engage legislators who need to know that in many cases state-funded Medicaid is paying for extended medical stays at about $18,000 per month. Provide necessary money for substance abuse treatment and counseling.

8. Take responsibility: while the aim is not to throw the book at parents so to speak (in most cases where women are seriously trying to deal with a substance abuse issue), they need to seek and get counseling and family planning. A life is at stake and could be forever changed. Women on prescription pills (or any drug) should take great precautions in avoid pregnancy.

9. Research long-term effects of NAS on babies. Engage research partners, hospital or universities to help create a database and understand how NAS will affect these children's lives.

Send us your suggestions, questions and reactions:

• Via email: mailbag@news-press.com
• Via fax: (239) 334-0708
• Via mail: The News-Press/Opinion, P.O. Box 10, Fort Myers, FL 33902

CONTACT LEGISLATORS

• Sen. Garrett Richter, District 37, 338-2777, richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov
• Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, District 27, 850-487-5356
• Sen. Mike Bennett, District 21, 225-3697, bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov
• Rep. Ken Roberson, House District 71, 941-613-0914, ken.roberson@myfloridahouse.gov
• Rep. Paige Kreegel, House District 72, 941-575-5820, paige.kreegel@myfloridahouse.gov
• Rep. Matt Caldwell, House District 73, e-mail through myfloridahouse.gov, click on representatives
• Rep. Gary Aubuchon, House District 74, 344-4900, gary.aubuchon@myfloridahouse.gov
• Rep. Trudi Williams, District 75, 433-6775, trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov
• Senate President Mike Haridopolos, 850-487-5056, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov
• House Speaker Dean Cannon, 850-488-2742, dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov
• Gov.-elect Rick Scott, visit ScottTransition.com, click on FLORIDA 2.0 or write:
Rick Scott for Florida, 300 S.E. 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301