October 3, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
During the month of October, Tennessee is observing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Awareness Month. Over the last decade, opioid use in the United States and Tennessee has rapidly increased, causing an alarming number of babies born with NAS, a set of withdrawal symptoms a newborn may experience as a result of prenatal exposure to prescription drugs or heroin.
To raise awareness about NAS in our community, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition is asking individuals to wear Pearls and Bowties for Babies on Friday, October 4. The Prevention Alliance encourages you to invite your family, friends, players, and coworkers to participate and post their photos on social media using the hashtag #NASMONTHTN.
A suggested post could be as simple as, “A baby’s life shouldn’t begin with detox. I’m wearing my pearls/bowtie today to support NAS awareness in TN. #NASMONTHTN”
The main messaging for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is that it is 100 percent preventable. Especially sharing that babies are born dependent and not addicted. The CDC states that 86% of pregnancies are unintended among women who abuse opioids
For more information visit Borndrugfreetn.com