Opioid epidemic focus of trip to infant drug rehab center

HUNTINGTON — First lady Melania Trump spent her Tuesday morning at Lily’s Place Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Center in Huntington in an effort to learn more about the opioid epidemic plaguing the region.

“I was invited to Washington D.C. about a week and a half ago with a group of people involved with the opioid epidemic either directly or indirectly,” Rebecca Crowder, executive director of Lily’s Place, said. “Melania took an interest in Lily’s Place while I was there, and we were so excited to have her visit so quickly.”

Crowder said the purpose of the first lady’s visit was for her to learn more about the opioid epidemic in general, as well as to learn more about the work Lily’s Place does specifically.

“Lily’s Place has been open a little over three years, and has served 200 babies and their families,” Crowder said. “We were created because of the problem with the number of babies being born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at our local hospitals.”

The mission of Lily’s Place is to provide medical care to infants suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrom (NAS) and offer non-judgmental support, education and counseling services to families and caregivers.

Lily’s Place provides observational, therapeutic and pharmacological care to infants suffering from prenatal drug exposure, and uses proven therapeutic handling methods and the latest weaning techniques to ease withdrawal symptoms.

“Thank you so much for having me here today,” Trump said in a video of the event. “I want to be here to report to you and give a voice to Lily’s Place and also for the opioid epidemic.”