Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital received a $2.5 million donation from an anonymous donor to expand services to treat babies exposed to opioids and other drugs in utero. The donation will be used to open a Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Follow-up Clinic on the main campus in St. Petersburg, as well as to enhance services at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s NAS Specialty Clinic in Sarasota, which opened in 2013.

“It’s hard to overstate the relevance or the impact of this generous donation,” said Jenine Rabin, executive vice president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation. “At a time when so many in our communities are struggling with opioid addiction, these funds will bring critical services to the babies and young children who may suffer the serious, long-term effects of exposure to these drugs. This gift gives these little ones more than a fighting chance for a healthy life.”

NAS is a withdrawal syndrome of infants after birth as a result of exposure to opioids and other drugs in the womb. The number of cases in Florida has followed the pattern of exponential growth seen nationwide. In 2016, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, 4,215 babies were born in Florida with exposure in the womb to addictive drugs. That is a 69% increase over the prior year. Hillsborough County led the state with 579 NAS babies, Pinellas County was no. 6 (176), and Sarasota County was no. 15 (114).

“It is unclear how exposure to these medications affects a child’s development. That is where the NAS Follow-up Clinic can make a real difference,” said Katie Wooten, BSN, RN, coordinator for both clinics. “Johns Hopkins All Children’s is able to offer the expertise and monitoring essential to evaluating physical and cognitive issues that may arise.”

The NAS Specialty Clinics will treat babies who have been exposed to drugs in utero, including prescription medicines, methadone, heroin, and other drugs. Pediatricians, a nurse practitioner, and a neurodevelopment psychologist will be on staff as part of the program. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy will also play a role, with follow-up through age 5.

“Johns Hopkins All Children’s has been treating babies with NAS successfully for many years now, in response to the growing opioid addiction problem,” said Prabhu Parimi, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal, & Neonatal Institute. “This gift will help us to bridge the gaps, and provide care that will allow these babies to truly thrive.”