A staggering 90% of pregnancies among opioid-maintained women are unintended.
The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 has been passed by the House and Senate. While Congress and Health and Human Services are taking steps to improve the treatment and recovery of addiction, they have completely overlooked the obvious solution to addressing the crisis as it relates to infants born addicted - preventing these pregnancies in the first place. We are asking that President Trump and Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar step up and prioritize family planning efforts to prevent newborns from suffering.
Every day, more infants are forced to endure the agony of opioid withdrawal. Swift, significant action is needed at the federal level to help communities afford women the ability to better prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Why are we waiting for babies to become drug dependent before action is taken?
We can help women and children by removing the hurdles to accessing long-acting and effective birth control. By doing so, we can improve lives and better help those struggling with addiction to overcome their dependency without the added burden of parenting before they are ready.
The bill is on the way to the White House to be signed into law. Please ask President Trump and HHS Secretary Alex Azar to use the bill signing as an opportunity to prioritize family planning to stop newborns from suffering.