North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues have introduced bipartisan legislation called the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act. The purpose of this act is to ensure that pregnant and postpartum women in the United States have reliable access to mental health and substance use disorder care. The legislation seeks to reauthorize residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as enhance comprehensive substance use disorder treatments, prevention and recovery support, parenting training, mental health counseling, and harm reduction interventions.

Senator Tillis expressed his motivation for introducing the legislation, stating, "I’ve heard the heartbreaking stories of countless families in North Carolina and across the country who have lost loved ones to substance use and overdoses. We owe it to future generations to address this unfolding crisis and save lives by increasing access to life-saving treatments, prevention and recovery support, and mental health counseling for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorder. This legislation will take a positive step in ensuring all moms and babies benefit from comprehensive, family-centric recovery and support services."

The need for such legislation is evident due to the alarming increase in drug overdose deaths, particularly involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl, in recent years. Pregnant women have been experiencing more overdoses than ever before. The Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act aims to support evidence-based parenting and treatment models that can effectively reduce substance use among pregnant women.

To ensure access to services for low-income women and combat maternal health disparities, the bill will provide grant funds to public and non-profit entities that offer Pregnant and Postpartum Women (PPW) programs. These programs focus on providing comprehensive, family-centered substance use disorder services to pregnant and postpartum women.

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) expressed their support for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act. Robert I.L. Morrison, the Executive Director of NASADAD, stated, "We believe this bill will continue to help more pregnant and postpartum women and their families gain access to comprehensive, family-centered substance use disorder services."

For those interested in the specifics of the bill, a summary of the bill text can be found on the official website. The full text of the bill is also available for review.

The introduction of the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act represents a significant step toward providing pregnant and postpartum women with the necessary support and care for mental health and substance use disorders. By reauthorizing residential treatment programs and enhancing comprehensive treatments and support, this legislation aims to improve the lives of mothers and babies across the country.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2023/12/tillis-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-support-pregnant-and-postpartum-women