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Opioid Use During Pregnancy

Floor Speech

Date: April 27, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Minors and Children

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Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the POPPY Study Act, which will improve research and awareness of opioid use disorder during pregnancy.

The opioid epidemic is a national crisis and has hit particularly hard in Utah. Unfortunately, Utah's drug overdose rate is ranked among the highest in the Nation. Six Utahns die every week from an opioid overdose. Sadly, Utah also has the highest rate of opioid prescriptions for pregnant mothers in the country, double the national average.

Women have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, and little is understood about the effect this has had on pregnant women. That is why I have introduced the POPPY Study Act, to improve our understanding of prescription opioid use during pregnancy, the effects that it can have on a mother and child, and how we can best help those who are pregnant and suffering from opioid use disorder.

It is my hope that the POPPY Study Act will improve the care and well-being of our expecting mothers and their children.

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