Updated 07/01/2012 03:58 PM
Schumer Seeks To Warn Pregnant Women About Addiction To Painkillers
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Senator Charles Schumer said he is alarmed at what appears to be a trend of babies born addicted to prescription painkillers and other drugs.
The senator says the number of addicted babies has skyrocketed in New York and around the United States.
He cited a recent study published in a medical journal, which found roughly one addicted baby had been born every hour in 2009.
Schumer wants the Food and Drug Administration to require drug labels to carry clear warnings to pregnant women about the risk of addiction to painkillers and for other government agencies to take action.
"Today we're urging the FDA, the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and the CDC, Centers for Disease Control, to take concrete steps to warn women and doctors about the potential harms of taking prescription drugs while pregnant," said Schumer.
He is also asking doctors to educate themselves better on the symptoms of addiction.