Bill aims to track infants affected by moms’ addictions

7

By Jacob Rundstatehouse_logo_final-graybackground-003-1

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – A medical disorder affecting infants would be better defined and then tracked under a bill passed by the Indiana Senate on Tuesday.

The legislation, authored by Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, defines Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and would require hospitals to use and report its incidence.

NAS is found in newborns whose mothers were addicted to illegal or prescription drugs during pregnancy.

“We find that approximately 300 babies are born every year in the state of Indiana that are addicted to illegal drugs,” Becker said.  “So we want to get a better handle on the reporting as well as on some of the definitions.”

The bill requires the state department of health to give a report to the General Assembly before Jan. 1, 2016, regarding their collected NAS data.

It also authorizes the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana to study treatment for pregnant women addicted to drugs and the various services to inform professionals and the public who might come in contact with an infant who has NAS.

Senate Bill 408 unanimously passed the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for further discussion.

Jacob Rund is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

7 COMMENTS

      • Yea and the politicians can always say no which is what they should do. ATM can’t think of any situation they should say yes to “being bought”. For the most part I do not blame businesses for trying but politicians well… they are supposed to be on the individuals side. That of course gets misconstrued and twisted.

        But the booze bearing horse and equestrian politicians have been beat to death and I doubt much of anything will change. If any change does happen it has to be with the politician having the balls to just say no to the crony capitalism, like that will ever happen.

  2. Admittedly I did not read the article, but judging solely by the headline, this Bill character is one sick man.

Comments are closed.