Leech Lake Tribe declares public health emergency for pregnant women, newborns

Leech Lake Tribal Chair Carri Jones presented a new resolution to declare a public health emergency concerning pregnant women and newborn babies exposed to alcohol or drug abuse, April 3 at the third quarterly meeting.

Over the past year it has come to the Band’s attention that an increasing number of newborn babies are experiencing negative side effects due to the mother’s drug abuse. Methamphetamine (meth) has now surpassed all drugs as the most frequently reported controlled substances found in newborn babies.

http://www.walkermn.com/news/leech-lake-tribe-declares-public-health-emergency-for-pregnant-women/article_91c765ec-e2d6-11e4-ab6e-bb518affc257.html