WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues recently introduced the bipartisan Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act to ensure pregnant and postpartum women across the United States have reliable access to mental health and substance use disorder care. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women and enhances comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatments, prevention and recovery support, parenting training, mental health counseling, and harm reduction interventions. 

“I’ve heard the heartbreaking stories of countless families in North Carolina and across the country who have lost loved ones to substance use and overdoses,” said Senator Tillis. “We owe it to future generations to address this unfolding crisis and save lives by increasing access to life-saving treatments, prevention and recovery support, and mental health counseling for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorder. This legislation will take a positive step in ensuring all moms and babies benefit from comprehensive, family-centric recovery and support services.” 

Background:

Drug overdose deaths, involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl, reached record highs in 2020 and 2021, with pregnant women experiencing more overdoses than ever before. The PPW program supports evidence-based parenting and treatment models to reduce substance use among pregnant women. Grant funds to PPW programs aim to ensure access to services for low-income women and combat maternal health disparities. The Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act will support public and non-profit entities that offer PPW programs. 

“On behalf of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), I am writing in support of the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act. Thank you for introducing this important legislation.  As a result, more pregnant and postpartum women have access to these comprehensive services in outpatient and intensive outpatient settings. Again, thank you for introducing the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act. We believe this bill will continue to help more pregnant and postpartum women and their families gain access to comprehensive, family-centered substance use disorder services,” said Robert I.L. Morrison, Executive Director, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.

A summary of the bill text can be found HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.  

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