MARQUETTE -- Marquette General Hospital hosted a forum today devoted to drug addictions in pregnant females and the consequences for the newborns.
Over a hundred health professionals, social workers and education specialists listened to presentations from medical experts throughout the day.
Several vendors specializing in pregnancy and drug addiction were also in attendance.
According to health professionals, the number of pregnant women addicted to drugs has risen throughout the UP over recent years.
"These babies born to moms addicted to drugs require special care after they're born," said Cynthia Ampe, Women and Children Program Director at Marquette General. "Sometimes quite intensive care, because they're actually withdrawing from the drugs once they're born."
Attendees also heard ways to prevent and treat the harmful addictions.
OxyContin and the increasingly popular bath salts are some of the most commonly abused drugs by pregnant women.
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