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Cox: Help needed for Drug Free Babies

Jack Cox, Guest Columnist
Jack Cox

Sexually assaulted at age 15, Sarasota resident Holly Weigman started using crack cocaine to manage her grief. One week after her 21st birthday, she landed in jail for the first time. That same week, she found out she was pregnant. Holly credits the First Step Mothers and Infants program for saving her life and the life of her baby.

Holly is among hundreds in our region who make up our most vulnerable population. Many in this group are innocent unborn and newborn babies who reside with their mothers at the Residential Addiction Treatment Center at First Step of Sarasota.

The Drug Free Babies program, also known as the Mothers and Infants program, is performing invaluable work here in our community, providing substance-abuse treatment services to pregnant women and their babies.

Since the program’s inception 22 years ago, First Step has developed a strong system of care for the women and infants in the program by collaborating with many community partners to provide comprehensive services. They place emphasis on prenatal care, parenting skills, relapse prevention, smoking cessation, life-management skills and family reunification.

And yet, last year our Legislature cut funding for this life-saving program by close to $300,000. This devastating blow resulted in a 35 percent loss in funding for residential-treatment beds.

As a business owner, I know how important it is to monitor the activities of my business and gauge the return on investment.

The staggering return on investment with the Drug Free Babies program at First Step is greater than 3,000 percent. With a 100 percent success rate for those who complete it, the program has seen the delivery of 434 alcohol- and drug-free babies.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the cost to society of one drug-exposed newborn is $750,000 by age 18. The drug-free babies delivered represent a savings of $325 million to our community over the last 22 years.

Women admitted to the program are addicted to opiates, benzodiazepines, alcohol or cocaine, and often a combination of these drugs. Physical, sexual and emotional trauma are often underlying causes of their substance abuse.

Treating these complex issues goes hand-in-hand with treating addiction. The Drug Free Babies program provides tools these moms need to stay drug-free and, in turn, their babies are born drug-free, increasing the return on investment as both mother and baby receive treatment.

Our community is in crisis. We are experiencing an unprecedented opioid epidemic. This is not the time to cut funding for residential-treatment programs.

Where would women like Holly and her daughter Katie be today if First Step had not been there for her when she was struggling?

Holly recently celebrated 16 years of sobriety and her 12-year wedding anniversary. An alumna of the Drug Free Babies program, she will share  her powerful story at the upcoming 15th Annual Caring Hearts luncheon on Feb. 27 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota.

Additionally, First Step will present the 2018 Caring Heart of the Year Award to Nancy Page, vice president of clinical practices at First Step, for her 18 years of service to the program.

I hope you will consider supporting this event and the important work this organization is doing in our community. To purchase tickets or to sponsor the event, visit the First Step website at www.fsos.org and click on the 2018 Caring Hearts luncheon tab or call 941-552-2065.

First Step of Sarasota is doing its part to fight the opioid epidemic. Please join me in doing our part to keep this vital program in our community.

Jack Cox is president of Halfacre Construction and board president of First Step of Sarasota.