Rep. [crscore]Evan Jenkins[/crscore] highlighted in the Republican weekly address how the growing opioid epidemic is leading to an influx of babies being born with withdrawal symptoms, saying Congress needs to act.
The West Virginia Republican said in the address released Saturday it’s critical to find out how many babies are affected and what barriers need to break down so proper treatment can be received. Jenkins introduced The Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, a bill aimed at identifying federal barriers in treating infants addicted to opioids or other drugs, April 19 alongside Illinois Democrat [crscore]Cheri Bustos[/crscore].
“Their bodies shake with tremors, and their cries are heartbreaking,” he said. “This is called neonatal abstinence syndrome, and it is truly a terrible way to come into this world. Unfortunately, it is becoming all too common. This is especially true in my home state of West Virginia.”
Jenkins said health care leaders are making advances in treatments for babies born with withdrawal symptoms, also knows as neonatal abstinence syndrome, at establishments like Lily’s Place – the pediatric recovery center he helped establish in his district.
“There, doctors and nurses use the best treatments and therapies available to help babies suffering from withdrawal, and parents can get counseling,” he said. “We need more programs like it, but it took years of cutting through red tape just to get this one program set up. There are real gaps in health care all across the country, and far too many obstacles getting in the way of our doctors and nurses.”
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is slated to mark up a number of bills related to the opioid epidemic on April 26-27, and hopes to get bills on the president’s desk within weeks.
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