West Virginia wants warnings on prescription drugs for expecting mothers

West Virginia wants to see “black box” warnings on all opioid-based pain killers to alert pregnant women that using the medicine during pregnancy could cause Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Monday that the Mountain State has joined 42 other states and territories seeking the warnings through a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

NAS is a series of problems that a newborn can suffer from as a result of exposure to illegal or prescription drugs. The effects include problems with an infant’s autonomic nervous system, respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.

What these boxed warnings would do is draw attention to the serious or life threatening dangers associated with these narcotics on expecting mothers and their newborns.

NAS is not a new problem, but rather a growing problem. According to the letter, a report issued at the seventh annual Drug Prevention Summit in Huntington earlier this year showed that 75 out of every 1,000 babies born at Cabell Huntington Hospital have been exposed to drugs or alcohol. The national average is five per 1,000.

In addition, the attorney general’s letter cited pointed out a 2012 article in the Journal of American Medical Association that showed treating a newborn with NAS cost approximately $53,400 per infant in 2009. The article estimated the cost of treating newborns with NAS exceeded $720 million nationwide.

The letter also stated that the warnings are necessary due to the growing cases of NAS in the state.