Early childhood programs are a refuge in the opioid crisis

Another viewpoint is a column The NewsHerald makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Christopher J. Collins is the Willoughby Hills Chief of Police.

You don’t have to go too far to see the devastating impact of drug abuse in Ohio, which ranks among the top five states in the nation with the highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. While we all know the epidemic is compromising public safety and our economy, there’s another consequence that’s getting a lot less attention: the impact on young children.

That’s the harsh reality those of us in law enforcement see far too often when we encounter kids who are being abused or neglected because their parents are struggling to overcome addiction. As a result of these chaotic home environments, many kids experience physical and mental health problems that persist well into adulthood.

Fortunately, child advocates and lawmakers are taking steps to give vulnerable kids a better chance of surviving these terrible circumstances. One is bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Rob Portman that will protect bonds between parents and children. The second is an effort to protect federally funded early childhood programs that support youngsters in families struggling with addiction.

Senator Portman’s legislation, sponsored with seven fellow senators, is known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0. It’s an urgent follow-up to the CARA bill signed into law close to two years ago, which aimed to improve public safety by giving communities resources to expand access to treatment and recovery programs that get people back on their feet.

Among other things, the updated legislation expands treatment for pregnant and postpartum women and supports facilities that enable children to stay with their moms as they recover. It also encourages states to develop plans for hospitals and social services to report newborns who have been exposed to drugs, and offers funding to help teens recover from addiction.

We can also support well-established early childhood programs as a refuge for children in households struggling with addiction. This was the focus of a congressional briefing last month that spotlighted why quality preschool and child care are especially important to counter the troubling experiences many children are having at home.

Law enforcement and workforce leaders also spoke about how Head Start, Early Head Start and quality preschool programs build important socialemotional and learning skills while enabling children to experience stable, nurturing environments. These programs also serve as respite for parents overwhelmed with caring for their kids as they struggle to recover from addiction.

Like voluntary home visiting programs for at-risk families, some early childhood programs have a “two-generation” effect by directing parents to substance abuse treatment options, improving parenting skills, and helping parents provide safer home environments.

The effort to protect federal funding for early childhood programs is being driven by five sectors of society, including law enforcement, business and retired military leaders alongside pastors, athletes and coaches.

In August, they’ll release a report here in Ohio that emphasizes the importance of protecting vulnerable kids now and also describes many ways quality early childhood programs boost school readiness and achievement. It profiles programs in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Michigan where participating kids had higher reading and math test scores, were held back in school less often, and/ or were more likely to graduate from high school.

These are the types of outcomes we should look for among participants in Ohio’s state preschool and Head Start programs, all of which need sufficient funding from Washington to ensure more kids – particularly those from at-risk families – have the opportunity to participate.

I really cannot over-emphasize the importance of these measures. Every 25 minutes a child is born suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which happens when babies are exposed to drugs, most often opioids, in the womb. The symptoms — which range from tremors to seizures to uncontrollable crying — are heartbreaking, and most of the children who are affected can only recover with extensive care.

From there, surviving and thriving can be a lifetime struggle. That’s why we need thoughtful action from lawmakers here in Ohio and Washington to expand parental coaching and early education programs that set young children on a healthier course for life.

These programs also serve as respite for parents overwhelmed with caring for their kids as they struggle to recover from addiction.

Christopher J. Collins