Opioid NAS Lawyer Memphis TN | Legal Help for Infant Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid NAS Lawyer Memphis TNAll throughout America, and right here in Memphis, a terrible epidemic is plaguing our friends, our families, and our children: the opioid crisis. As the opioid NAS lawyer Memphis TN has trusted with their most sensitive cases, I’m working with families to get justice.

The Opioid Crisis Is Bad and Getting Worse

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs that include:

  • oxycodone (found in OxyContin® and Percocet®)
  • hydrocodone (found in Vicodin®)
  • fentanyl
  • codeine, and
  • morphine

The majority of these drugs are prescribed legally to help manage pain that’s both chronic and short-term.

However, the human body can build up a tolerance to these substances. This means over time, a person needs larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. And as a result, using these products can lead to dependence and addiction.

About twenty years ago, big pharmaceutical companies allegedly misrepresented the branding of the opioids they were selling. They allegedly downplayed their side effects and minimized their powerful addiction potential. This led to an enormous increase in opioid prescriptions, as doctors were under the impression they were safe.

In 1999 alone, the overall number of opioid painkiller prescriptions jumped by over ten million. Just last year, opioid overdoses were up by 30%, and that number is still rising.

This is why I’m so passionate about being an opioid NAS lawyer Memphis TN can count on.

Pregnant Drug Mom NASOpioid Use Affects the Most Vulnerable Members of Our Society: Our Children.

When they first hit the market, mothers and doctors alike were unaware of the terrible side effects opioids could have on the development of children. Many doctors assumed the drugs were totally safe.

This misconception led to mothers taking opioids for pain management or addiction while pregnant or breastfeeding. But when mothers take opioids with a child in the womb, it can cause their unborn children to become addicted to the drugs, too.

This means children can and will experience painful opioid withdrawal extremely early in life or after they stop breastfeeding.

This sudden withdrawal can lead to physical complications, disabilities, psychiatric illness, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS can result in lifelong struggles and medical care for the child. Symptoms include:

  • Body shakes (tremors)
  • Seizures (convulsions)
  • Overactive reflexes (twitching) and tight muscle tone
  • Excessive crying and/or high-pitched cries
  • Poor feeding or slow weight gain
  • Breathing problems
  • Fever and sweating
  • Blotchy skin
  • Sleep problems
  • Diarrhea or throwing up
  • and more

And these problems can have extremely damaging long-term consequences, including significant developmental delays.

If untreated, NAS can devastate children and their families long-term. Our youngest and most vulnerable citizens deserve so much better. And at the very least, they deserve justice.

Darrell Castle downtown Memphis attorneyHow Our Memphis Opioid NAS Lawyers Can Help

Our firm has been working with families impacted by the opioid epidemic. We’re currently representing children who’ve suffered from opioid-related NAS.

Sometimes we represent the child alongside their birth parent, who didn’t know the risks of taking opioid medications while they were pregnant or breastfeeding. They may have experienced addiction while pregnant – the same opioid addiction so many Americans have endured.

We also represent adoptive families who’s new child was exposed to opioids during pregnancy or breastfeeding. These families (often relatives or friends of an addicted person) take in a child out of enormous love and duty. Then over time, they may notice terrible withdrawal symptoms.

If your child has suffered from NAS as an infant, you may be entitled to compensation. With our help, you may be able to recover the money to pay for medical care, developmental support, and long-term recovery after NAS.

For over 30 years, our team has represented the most vulnerable people in Memphis and won. We treat every case with compassion and fight for you with every resource available. And we don’t win anything unless and until you do.

That’s how we’ve earned a 5-star rating on Avvo, an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, and multiple Martindale-Hubbell awards for client satisfaction.  We take enormous pride in what we do, especially for our youngest and most precious clients.

Contact us online today or call 901-327-2100 to speak in person with our trusted legal team.

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Memphis Opioid NAS Lawyer | Frequently Asked Questions

Our Memphis opioid NAS lawyers can help you get the justice and compensation you and your child deserve.

Here are some frequently asked questions about opioid NAS cases. Learn more about infant opioid withdrawal, and see how our experienced team can help.

What is opioid NAS?

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a condition in which infants experience withdrawal symptoms due to their prenatal exposure to opioids. When a pregnant woman uses opioids, the baby can become dependent on the drugs and may experience withdrawal symptoms after birth.

The reasons women took these opioids varies widely, but the result remains the same: the opioid crisis in the United States has had devastating consequences, affecting not only those who became addicted to these powerful painkillers but also innocent newborns who were exposed to opioids during pregnancy.

Who can file an opioid NAS lawsuit?

A variety of people might qualify to file an opioid NAS lawsuit, depending on your individual situation. This might include affected parents, legal guardians, or even the infants themselves when they come of age.

Additionally, some states, municipalities, and government entities have filed lawsuits on behalf of their communities to recoup expenses related to the opioid crisis.

Who is liable in an opioid NAS case?

The defendants in opioid NAS lawsuits can vary; but typically, they include pharmaceutical companies that manufactured and marketed the opioids.

The pharmaceutical companies are the ones who allegedly misrepresented the risks and benefits of opioids, downplayed their addictive nature, and didn’t take adequate steps to prevent overprescribing.

Depending on your case, it might also involve healthcare providers who prescribed the medications and/or distributors involved in the supply chain of these drugs. Healthcare providers may be accused of negligently prescribing opioids to pregnant women, contributing to infants’ NAS.

What damages can be sought in opioid NAS lawsuits?

Plaintiffs in opioid NAS lawsuits may seek damages for a variety of problems associated with opioid NAS, including:

  • medical expenses
  • pain and suffering
  • emotional distress, and
  • long-term care costs for affected children.

In some cases, punitive damages may also be pursued to penalize the defendants for their actions.

Are there class-action lawsuits for opioid NAS, and should I join one?

While there have been class-action lawsuits related to the opioid crisis, many opioid NAS cases are pursued as individual or multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases due to the unique circumstances surrounding each affected child and their family.

Class-action lawsuits aren’t always the best option for families impacted by opioids, and we generally encourage our clients to file individually. We offer a free consultation to discuss your options and the difference between these two types of lawsuits.

How can you prove that opioids caused NAS in your child?

Proving a causal link between opioid use during pregnancy and NAS can be complex. Fortunately, our attorneys handle the investigation on your behalf.

To build your case, we may use medical records, expert testimony, and evidence showing the mother’s opioid use during pregnancy. We work tireless to build your claim and tell your story in the most powerful and effective way possible.

Have there been any notable opioid NAS settlements or verdicts already?

Several major pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, have faced lawsuits related to the opioid crisis that resulted in significant settlements.

Individual opioid NAS lawsuits are going to vary in their success, and we can’t promise any particular result to specific clients. But we are very hopeful we can get justice for families harmed by these dangerous drugs.

Can opioid NAS lawsuits help end the opioid crisis?

Opioid NAS lawsuits are critical. Not only can your claim get your loved ones much needed financial compensation, but they also play a role in getting justice for everyone impacted.

These cases raise awareness about the opioid crisis, hold responsible parties accountable, and encourage changes in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare practices to prevent future tragedies.

What should I look for when getting legal help for an opioid NAS lawsuit?

If you believe your child has been affected by opioid NAS, it’s crucial you consult with an attorney experienced in pharmaceutical litigation. You need a firm small enough to communicate closely with you and big enough to have the resources for your case.

Our attorneys have helped take on some of the biggest companies in the world, and won. We can assess your case, guide you through the legal process, and help you pursue the compensation your family deserves.

If you believe your child has been affected by NAS due to opioid exposure during pregnancy, contact us today for a totally free conversation to discuss your options. As the opioid NAS lawyer Memphis TN has trusted for decades, we’d be honored to help you and your family pursue justice.

 

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