CDC Evaluates State-Led Surveillance of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at data from six states mandated to report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition that occurs when newborn babies experience withdrawal from drugs.  A previous study of these states – Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia – indicated that the reporting helped determine the prevalence of NAS and identify communities more severely affected.  The current report is based on answers to a follow-up questionnaire given to epidemiologists and birth defects program managers from the same six states.