First Lady Melania Trump visited West Virginia yesterday to tour Lily’s Place – a facility in Huntington that serves babies born addicted to substances. Her visit sheds more attention on the Ohio Valley’s addiction crisis.
About 5 percent of all children born last year in West Virginia were affected by drugs — the highest rate in the country. Aaron Payne has this report on efforts to treat both newborns and parents in the grip of addiction.
We also hear the next part of our series on grandfamilies, or grandparents raising grandchildren. Those families becoming one of the quickest growing family units in West Virginia. The rise is mostly due to the opioid crisis. These families are often faced with tough choices and legal battles, including decisions about whether or not to adopt. While adoption brings stability to what’s often a lifelong arrangement, Kara Lofton reports it can also mean the loss of much needed financial support.