HHS Secretary Alex Azar traveled on Friday to Dayton, Ohio, to visit Brigid’s Path, a facility for mothers and infants struggling with opioid dependence, and hear from young people and others affected by the opioid crisis.

Secretary Azar visited with a mother in recovery and her infant, who was born with neonatal abstinence syndrome and is being cared for at Brigid’s Path. He then participated in a roundtable with young people who have been affected by the crisis, including a young woman who had lost both parents to addiction; a young woman who lost her brother to an overdose; and two high schoolers who designed an app to raise awareness about opioid addiction and treatment options.

The roundtable was led by Judge Anthony Capizzi, who runs a family drug court in Montgomery County, where Brigid’s Path is located, and included U.S. Representative Mike Turner, who represents Montgomery County; Jill Kingston, founder of Brigid’s Path; Cyndi Swafford, a foster mother who has adopted opioid-affected children; and Jewell Good, Director of Montgomery County Child Services. Participants individually highlighted the need for wraparound services and recovery supports for those struggling with opioid addiction, as well as challenges that the opioid crisis has presented for the foster care and child services systems.

Following the roundtable, Secretary Azar, Jill Kingston, and Cyndi Swafford held a press conference, where Secretary Azar emphasized President Trump’s personal commitment to the struggle against opioid addiction and noted HHS efforts to advance treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome in particular.

The visits were a part of an ongoing effort by HHS to visit with communities on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic, and followed Thursday’s opioids summit at the White House.

Updates from the Department are also available at:

Secretary Azar - @SecAzar

HHS - @HHSgov

HHS Media - @HHSMedia