The Opioid epidemic continues to be a serious issue in our region, and its effect on children cannot be understated.
According to ExploreClarion.com, research released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council showed the rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome have skyrocketed over the last decade and northwestern Pennsylvania has some of the highest rates. NAS is a fetal and neonatal addiction and withdrawal as a result of the mother’s dependence on drugs during pregnancy. Infants born with NAS are more likely to suffer several complications.
The rate of NAS births in Clarion County is lower than the state average as well as most of the surrounding counties at 12.1 per 1,000 births in the 2016-17 fiscal year. Venango County, on the other hand, saw their rate climb to 41.1 per 1,000 births, the fourth highest rate in the state, while Jefferson County rated closer to Clarion at 12.5 per 1,000 births.
According to Todd Kline, Director of Clarion County’s Children and Youth Services (CYS), the county saw an increase in foster placements due to methamphetamine abuse in 2015, and while the number of placements has declined since that time, he expects to see it rise again.
According to Kami Anderson, Executive Director of Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission, they have seen a large increase in young people vaping, and have concerns about what substances those young people are using.
