Richmond Hospital Sees Increase In Opioid-Addicted Newborns

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — Statistics show a steep increase in the number of babies born addicted to opioids at Reid Health hospital in Richmond.

Hospital representatives say 23 babies were born with an opioid addiction through the first four months of this year. Thirteen such births occurred through the first seven months of last year before the number went up to 54 for the entire year.

The (Richmond) Palladium-Item reports that last year's total represents a 74 percent increase from the 31 opioid-addicted babies born at the hospital in 2014. Before that, 11 were born in 2013, 15 in 2012, four in 2011 and one in 2010.

Reid Health officials plan to meet with Cross Road Christian Recovery Center for Women to establish a program for addicted mothers to receive treatment.