How can a doctor tell if a baby is addicted to drugs?

Answer by  dhuoda (1431)

A lot of drugs leave traces in the body and some can remain there for many months. Doctors can see drugs in blood samples and they can link some signs like frequent crying, shaking or failure to grow properly with possible known drug effects.

Answer by  John (9008)

They can test the baby to see if drugs are in its system; because a baby is so young, and it's liver is new, the traces last longer.

Answer by  Nevaeh100106 (16)

A doctor would see signs such as, unusual skin pigment and heart sounds, abnormal behaviors like excessive crying and irritability or unusual sleeping patterns.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

The most common means of such diagnosis is by urine tests of a woman in labor or blood tests of the baby at birth.

Answer by  jaclark586 (359)

Babies that are addicted to drugs will often suffer from low birth weight, or otherwise unexplainable crying tipping the doctor that it may be drug addicted. Most hospitals require a blood screen from the mother, this will also tell the doctor if the baby has been exposed to drugs.

Answer by  Ravelyn (62)

When a baby is addicted to drugs after birth if it will begin to go through withdraw and show symptoms.