Combating the Drug Epidemic
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is the name given to newborns suffering from drug withdrawal resulting from the mother’s use of drugs during pregnancy. No baby should be born suffering from withdrawal from heroin, methamphetamine, oxycodone and other addictive drugs. Congressman Evan Jenkins is fighting every day to help these newborns and to ensure that they receive the best possible care. He has held multiple roundtable discussions with top doctors, nurses, and caregivers throughout southern West Virginia to hear what issues they are facing and learn how he can work in Congress to help these caregivers provide even better treatment for West Virginia’s babies.
Treatment and Recovery
Congressman Evan Jenkins has advocated for increased funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to ensure that states have the resources necessary to implement much-needed mental health services. He also has also championed increased funding for drug courts and veterans treatment courts – programs that work. These courts offer treatment and assistance in getting one’s life back on track.
Thanks to his work on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Jenkins was able to secure language that would help keep the focus on Appalachia and West Virginia when securing grant funding for drug abuse programs.
Evan will continue to advocate and push for better recovery programs and the funding needed throughout West Virginia.
Law Enforcement
Representative Jenkins fought through the appropriations process to increase funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), a program that brings together local, state, and federal law enforcement in order to stop the flow of drugs into our communities. HIDTA also works closely with the community to stop abuse problems before they begin.
Evan also advocated as a member of the Appropriations Committee for increased funding for the Byrne JAG police grants program. This program allows local law enforcement to use federal grant money in the ways that will best help the community. He will continue to be an advocate for our law enforcement and their efforts to combat the drug epidemic in West Virginia.
More on Combating the Drug Epidemic
July 13, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.), the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, is on its way to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
The Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act is included in a bipartisan package of bills addressing the opioid crisis, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. The House passed the bill, known as CARA, last week, and the Senate passed it tonight.
July 8, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.), the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, is another step closer to becoming law. This legislation would improve care for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to opioids during pregnancy.
July 8, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) successfully secured an additional $2 million in funding for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, which works with local law enforcement to combat the drug epidemic.
Rep. Jenkins offered his amendment during floor debate on the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. His amendment passed unanimously, and the bill passed late Thursday night 239-185.
June 9, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) is fighting to prevent the president from cutting more than $60 million in funding for anti-drug programs.
Through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jenkins advocated to increase funding for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and Drug-Free Communities programs – programs the president proposed cutting by $65.5 million.
May 17, 2016
Columns
Five years ago when I was a state senator, two compassionate Huntington nurses, Sara Murray and Rhonda Edmunds, contacted me about a disturbing trend they'd noticed at their hospital - a drastic rise in the number of babies born who were exposed to drugs in the womb. I held a baby suffering from drug exposure - called neonatal abstinence syndrome - and was shocked to see the physical pain they experienced in the first days and weeks of their life as they were weaned off narcotics and opioids.
May 11, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives is set today to pass bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) to help babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to drugs during pregnancy.
April 29, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.), has now been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
April 28, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) have introduced legislation to combat the opioid epidemic by ensuring doctors have sufficient resources and information when prescribing opioids for pain.
April 27, 2016
Press Release
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) to improve care for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome is on its way to the House floor after being approved by a House committee this morning.
The House Energy & Commerce Committee voted out H.R. 4978, the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, during a markup Wednesday morning.
April 26, 2016
Press Release
During a speech on the House floor today, U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) encouraged West Virginians to participate in National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30. This national program allows people to safely dispose of unneeded, unwanted or expired medications with no questions asked.