causal argument outline

Savannah Ballard

English 101       10-27-14

Causal Outline

Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or NAS, is a condition that is incredibly painful to an infant; it brings upon many dangerous symptoms as well. Born to mothers that used drugs while pregnant, these innocent newborns are forced to battle just to live in their first few days, weeks or months of life. NAS is a preventable condition that must be controlled and quickly, as the rates of newborns with NAS is climbing annually. The selfishness of these mothers who use drugs while carrying a child causes this painful condition, known as NAS, but even after being discharged from the hospital, these young babies are not out of harm’s way. Newborns with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome are at a higher risk of abuse due to the uncontrollable high pitched crying that cannot be soothed, caused by the drug withdrawal the child is experiencing.

Topic one: NAS is caused by mothers who use drugs while pregnant. This is not only a condition that leads to being born in withdrawal, but it leads to many other side effects, such as birth defects and a higher risk of abuse.

Topic Two: Newborns who develop NAS have a higher risk of abuse because they tend to have a high pitched cry that cannot be soothed or stopped.

Topic Three: The lack of punishment in our state for putting a child into this much harm is not severe enough, which leads to a rising rate of NAS babies being born each year.

Topic Four: If prevention programs were put into place, mothers could have somewhere to turn for help because they would be protected by the law for seeking medical attention.

Opposing Views: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is not a serious problem that needs to be addressed urgently or have money spent on prevention programs. What is more urgent than a newborn baby fighting for survival moments after birth? The money that is being used for post-natal care should be re- routed to help fight and prevent NAS rates from climbing more.

Conclusion: NAS is a serious problem that puts children at a higher risk for abuse, as well as causes many birth defects and life threatening symptoms, such as frequent seizures. This problem is large enough and needs to be fixed before more newborns are subjected to this needless pain. Child abuse is a serious problem, we can make a difference, and we must.