First lady tours rehab facility for infants
Visit seeks to spotlight opioid abuse problem
HUNTINGTON, W.VA. — First lady Melania Trump offered her support to those dealing with the nation’s opioid epidemic while touring a drug recovery center for infants Tuesday in West Virginia, the state with the highest rate of babies born dependent on drugs.
Lily’s Place, the first of its kind in the nation, works with addicted mothers’ newborns who are enduring the torment of drug withdrawal. It also offers treatment to parents.
“I want to be here to support you and give a voice to Lily’s Place and also for the opioid epidemic,” the first lady said during a roundtable discussion. “We need to open the conversation to children and young mothers how it’s dangerous to use drugs and get addicted to it.”
The nonprofit facility was opened in 2014 by a group of volunteers and health care workers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Virginia has the nation’s highest rate of babies born dependent on drugs at 33.4 per 1,000 hospital births, compared with the national average of 5.8.
The CDC says signs of drug withdrawal in babies include fevers, tremors, seizures, excessive crying, poor weight gain and dehydration.
During the discussion, also attended by presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway, the first lady sat across from recovering addict Rachel Kinder, who held her young son, a former patient at the facility.
“It’s done a lot for me,” Kinder said, then singled out a facility social worker. “Anytime I need anything, I can call her, even if it’s just to talk.”