October 10, 2017

MANCHIN STATEMENT ON FIRST LADY’S VISIT TO WEST VIRGINIA

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement today regarding First Lady Melania Trump’s visit to West Virginia to tour Huntington’s Lily’s Place, a facility that provides short-term medical care to babies born addicted to drugs.

“I’m pleased the First Lady has come to West Virginia to bring national attention to the front-line of the opioid epidemic and to learn first-hand about the impacts the opioid epidemic is having on children in Huntington and across our state,” Senator Manchin said. “The work Lily’s Place does is crucial to helping our communities and families overcome opioid addiction and I will continue to support the work they do. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump, the First Lady and with the Opioid Commission to find an end to this horrible crisis.”

Lily’s Place provides treatment for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a syndrome that occurs after birth in infants suffering from opioid withdrawals. West Virginia has the highest rate of NAS in the country, and Lily’s Place handles overflow from hospitals in the Huntington area.  The non-profit is also the first clinic to provide counseling and treatment to parents.

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