Ayotte Co-Sponsors Protecting Our Infants Act
Press Release
U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today 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.
"New Hampshire is facing a growing opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic, and infant withdrawal is a heart-breaking consequence of this sad reality," said Senator Ayotte. "We must work diligently to address all repercussions that result from drug abuse, I am co-sponsoring this important legislation because I believe that we must do everything we can do address the alarming opioid and prescription drug abuse problem in New Hampshire and across the country. Further, I am encouraged that this legislation supports cooperation on federal, state and local levels, because that is the only way that we will end this epidemic."
Nationwide, there has been a staggering 300 percent increase in the number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal since 2000, and the cost of treatment for those newborns was more than $700 million in 2009 alone. In New Hampshire, the Catholic Medical Center (CMC) reports that the number of babies born with syndrome is up to 7% from 3% the previous year. At CMC's Pregnancy Care Center, nearly half of the 250 mothers have substance abuse issues. Researchers estimate than more than one baby every hour is now born dependent on drugs and suffering from withdrawal.
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