Final answer:
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is seeing growth due to the opioid crisis and increased substance abuse during pregnancy. Efforts to tackle this include providing recovery services, access to drugs like Naloxone, and improving public health surveillance. Supportive programs and public health campaigns are also key in addressing NAS and its causes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding the growth of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) touches upon a concerning increase in this health condition, which affects newborns who have been exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the womb. NAS leads to withdrawal symptoms in newborns post-birth. The growth of NAS can be attributed to a broader opioid crisis, where there has been a rise in substance abuse among pregnant women. This has prompted healthcare systems to prioritize recovery services, widen access to overdose-reversal drugs like Naloxone, and enhance public health monitoring.
While punitive approaches to dealing with substance abuse during pregnancy have been cautioned against, according to Figdor and Kaeser (1998), supportive interventions such as the Nurse-Family Partnership program are showing promise in preventing negative outcomes and promoting maternal and child health. Furthermore, public health campaigns and increasing access to treatment have been critical in the fight against the opioid crisis, potentially leading to recent declines in opioid misuse.