The heroin epidemic has affected almost every community in Ohio and, sadly, women and babies are too often the victims of addiction. U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s bill takes steps to help women and babies by expanding treatment for expectant and postpartum women. Portman’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act is the only bipartisan heroin bill moving forward in the Senate. 

Highlights of Portman’s visits with medical professionals treating women and babies can be found below.

Ideastream (Cleveland):

…Over the past five years, hospitals in the Cleveland area have seen an increase in opiate addicted pregnant women.  WCPN went to University Hospitals to learn about efforts to reduce the number of infants born dependent on drugs…Portman toured Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland today.  He said health officials with University Hospitals helped provide input on the legislation.

WLIO- TV (Lima):

Senator Rob Portman is trying to push a new piece of federal legislation through congress. It would provide more funding for the treatment and recovery of those facing drug addictions. He says he's hopeful the "Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act" or CARA, will help be the solution to this growing epidemic…Kelly and Brian Anderson are parents to four adopted or foster children who were born with some sort of substance addiction. "They go through a lot of uncomfortable symptoms just like an adult would with withdrawals," Karen Stant, RN with St. Rita's Special Care Nursery. She says the numbers of babies they're seeing born at St. Rita's who have been exposed to illegal or prescription drugs continues to grow.