Combating the Drug Epidemic
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Neonatal abstinence syndrome is the name given to newborns suffering from drug withdrawal resulting from the mother’s use of drugs during pregnancy. No baby should be born suffering from withdrawal from heroin, methamphetamine, oxycodone and other addictive drugs. Congressman Evan Jenkins is fighting every day to help these newborns and to ensure that they receive the best possible care. He has held multiple roundtable discussions with top doctors, nurses, and caregivers throughout southern West Virginia to hear what issues they are facing and learn how he can work in Congress to help these caregivers provide even better treatment for West Virginia’s babies.
Treatment and Recovery
Congressman Evan Jenkins has advocated for increased funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration to ensure that states have the resources necessary to implement much-needed mental health services. He also has also championed increased funding for drug courts and veterans treatment courts – programs that work. These courts offer treatment and assistance in getting one’s life back on track.
Thanks to his work on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Jenkins was able to secure language that would help keep the focus on Appalachia and West Virginia when securing grant funding for drug abuse programs.
Evan will continue to advocate and push for better recovery programs and the funding needed throughout West Virginia.
Law Enforcement
Representative Jenkins fought through the appropriations process to increase funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), a program that brings together local, state, and federal law enforcement in order to stop the flow of drugs into our communities. HIDTA also works closely with the community to stop abuse problems before they begin.
Evan also advocated as a member of the Appropriations Committee for increased funding for the Byrne JAG police grants program. This program allows local law enforcement to use federal grant money in the ways that will best help the community. He will continue to be an advocate for our law enforcement and their efforts to combat the drug epidemic in West Virginia.
More on Combating the Drug Epidemic
January 10, 2017
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) has been named again to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, the powerful committee that sets the budget for all federal agencies and departments.
Rep. Jenkins served on the committee during the 114th Congress. Subcommittee assignments are expected to be announced later this month.
January 3, 2017
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) was sworn in today for his second term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I am humbled and honored to have the trust of the people of the Third Congressional District of West Virginia and to be their voice in Congress. Over the next two years, the people’s voices will be heard loud and clear in Washington as we reject the policies of the past eight years. I look forward to working with our new president, Donald Trump, to bring hope and jobs back to our state and nation.
December 13, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) said today that the 21st Century Cures Act, which President Obama signed into law Tuesday afternoon, will make a real difference in West Virginia’s fight against the drug crisis.
September 7, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) has helped secure a federal grant of $125,000 for the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership to continue its important work to prevent youth substance abuse.
The grant was awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug-Free Communities Program. Rep. Jenkins worked with the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership and the Office of National Drug Control Policy to help secure this grant.
July 13, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.), the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, is on its way to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
The Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act is included in a bipartisan package of bills addressing the opioid crisis, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. The House passed the bill, known as CARA, last week, and the Senate passed it tonight.
July 8, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.), the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, is another step closer to becoming law. This legislation would improve care for babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to opioids during pregnancy.
July 8, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) successfully secured an additional $2 million in funding for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, which works with local law enforcement to combat the drug epidemic.
Rep. Jenkins offered his amendment during floor debate on the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. His amendment passed unanimously, and the bill passed late Thursday night 239-185.
June 9, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) is fighting to prevent the president from cutting more than $60 million in funding for anti-drug programs.
Through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jenkins advocated to increase funding for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and Drug-Free Communities programs – programs the president proposed cutting by $65.5 million.
May 17, 2016
Columns
Five years ago when I was a state senator, two compassionate Huntington nurses, Sara Murray and Rhonda Edmunds, contacted me about a disturbing trend they'd noticed at their hospital - a drastic rise in the number of babies born who were exposed to drugs in the womb. I held a baby suffering from drug exposure - called neonatal abstinence syndrome - and was shocked to see the physical pain they experienced in the first days and weeks of their life as they were weaned off narcotics and opioids.
May 11, 2016
Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives is set today to pass bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) to help babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to drugs during pregnancy.