There is big news for children born opioid dependent. The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that opioid manufacturers can be sued under the state’s Drug Dealer Liability Act, as first reported by U.S. News. This is significant for several reasons. First, it means Tennessee’s highest court acknowledges the responsibility Big Pharma has had in creating America’s opioid crisis. Second, it means more children born addicted to opioids can seek the compensation they rightfully deserve for their drug injury.

Children born opioid dependent can develop NAS.

While much has been written about the opioid epidemic in the United States, most of the news coverage has been about adult addicts. But there are lesser-known victims who are also suffering. Each year, thousands of newborns come into this world addicted to opioids from their parents’ use. Many of these children are born with something called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or NAS.

NAS is a group of agonizing withdrawal symptoms caused from exposure to opioid drugs while in the womb. Sadly, it is an agonizing way to begin life.

The initial symptoms of NAS are as follows:

  • Crying excessively
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Sweating
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Slow weight gain
  • Blotchy skin
  • Arching of the child’s back
  • Refusing to feed
  • And more

Unfortunately, the symptoms of NAS don’t end after the withdrawal is complete. The long-term symptoms of NAS can last much longer. In some cases, they last a lifetime.

Long-term symptoms of NAS include:

  • Birth defects
  • Respiratory complications
  • Seizures
  • Chronic stress
  • Behavioral and development problems
  • Risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
  • Hearing disabilities
  • Language delays
  • Impaired motor skills
  • Psychiatric illness

When opioids first hit the public market, certain manufacturers marketed them as safe. Sometimes they even touted them as “a miracle in a bottle.” For example, some of the most highly-prescribed opioids include drugs like Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, methadone, fentanyl, and codeine. But now we know  better. More evidence is coming out that these drug companies were aware their products were harmful, yet chose to sell them anyway. Because of their greed, thousands of babies and children in Tennessee are suffering.

Speak to a lawyer free of judgment and free of charge.

At Darrell Castle & Associates, we are here to offer judgment-free help. It is our mission to help the children and families suffering from these terrible drug injuries. Above all, we believe the opioid manufacturers who misrepresented the safety and addictiveness of the drugs they sold are to blame. Consequently, they should be held responsible, not you.

If your child was born with NAS, contact us online today or call 901-327-2100 to speak with an attorney you can trust. The consultation is absolutely FREE. Furthermore, our team of compassionate and experienced NAS lawyers will do what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. Treating NAS can take a lifetime, and you shouldn’t be left with the bill. Call us today to hear how we can help.