BECKLEY, W.Va. — U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins released details of his new opioid crisis legislation Tuesday at a Raleigh County health center.
Jenkins hopes the Protecting NAS (neonatal abstinence syndrome) Babies Act will pass the Energy and Commerce Committee in D.C. Wednesday. The legislation would give treatment based on the Government Accountability Office’s study on neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to drugs during pregnancy, entitled “Protecting Our Infants Act: Final Strategy”.
“This is a call for action. We are making progress and it is a horrific issue facing far too many precious newborn babies in our country. The numbers continue to grow, but West Virginia has been a leader of taking care of these babies in our country.”
Jenkins was joined by physicians with FMRS Health Systems and Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley including substance use disorder clinical director Emily Reel. The facility offers addiction treatment, counseling and a a 90 day residential treatment program for women ages 18 and older who are pregnant or post-partum called Turning Pointe.
“We understand the addiction to be like a disease just like diabetes, like cancer, like any other medical issue,” said Reel. “However, the community as a whole still endorses a moral model. People become addicted because their bad people. People become addicted because they don’t know any better. That’s a stigma, and that prevents people from entering care.”
The Protecting NAS Babies Act would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources to develop strategies with recommendations from the study. It would also prevent the agency from delaying practices to treat NAS.
“It’s wonderful, caring people like this,” said Jenkins. “Healthcare providers and people who hear about expectant mothers. Giving them the best chance for life for themselves and a healthy start in life for their babies.”
The entire bill, known as H.R. 5562, is available here.