From Political News,

“U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced that she is co-sponsoring legislation being introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a strategy to address the alarming number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal after being exposed to opioids while in the womb.

The Protecting Our Infants Act would also direct HHS Secretary Burwell to develop recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid abuse and for treating infants born dependent on opioids.

The legislation would also encourage the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to work with states to help them improve their public health response to this epidemic” Read the full story »

For more information about our efforts to reduce substance abuse during pregnancy, visit our Substance Use During Pregnancy page.