Tennessee sees rise in babies born addicted

By The Associated Press

NASHVILLE (AP) — A task force of state health officials is trying to reverse an alarming rise in the number of babies born addicted to drugs in Tennessee.

Babies born addicted suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome, often spending many days in the hospital as they go through the painful withdrawal process.

The Health Department reports that the number of babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased by tenfold between 2000 and 2010.