Tennessee Department of Health says Putnam County works to reduce Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Community Project Designed to Prevent Babies Born Dependent on Drugs

Cookeville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Health and Putnam County Health Department are optimistic the incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or NAS, may finally be stabilizing, potentially heralding a future decrease in this epidemic that has plagued the state in recent years.

NAS occurs when a baby exposed to certain drugs, primarily narcotics, through the umbilical cord is cut off from that supply at birth and experiences withdrawal symptoms.

TDH made NAS a reportable condition in 2013 and provides weekly surveillance reports on the incidence and causes of NAS. At the end of 2014, the number of NAS cases reported in Tennessee was higher than in 2013. [Read more]

Tennesseans to benefit from Narcotic Drug Reporting starting April 1st

Nashville, TN – Effective April 1st, 2013, prescribers will be required to look up their patients in the state’s Controlled Substance Monitoring Database before beginning a new treatment with an opioid or benzodiazepine and at least yearly thereafter if treatment continues.

The reporting will ultimately benefit all Tennesseans in helping to decrease the complex collection of problems associated with improper use of prescribed drugs. [Read more]