TRI-CITIES, TN (WJHL)- Right now our region has one of the biggest populations of babies born dependent on drugs. Out of the entire state, the East Tennessee region from Knoxville to Northeast TN accounts for nearly half of babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or NAS.

There are still many questions surrounding NAS, and the state, universities, and local organizations are working to find answers.

“We’re not going to be able to address that challenge as rapidly as we’d like to until we can get our arms around, and I think that we’re beginning to do that now as a region, as a state, as a nation on the whole substance abuse disorder epidemic,” Dr. John Dreyzehner,  commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health said.

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