Testimony R Street Testimony in Support of VA SB 36, Removing penalties from prenatal use of MOUDsTestimony from:Robert Melvin, Northeast Region Director, R Street InstituteIn Support of SB 36: “Child abuse or neglect; prenatal use of a controlled substance or drug as prescribed.”January 23, 2026Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services CommitteeChairman VanValkenburg and members of the committee,My name is Robert Melvin, and I am the Northeast region director at the R Street Institute. The R Street Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization engaged in policy analysis and outreach promoting free markets, and limited, effective governments in a variety of policy areas, including opioid harm reduction. [3] Medications for opioid use disorder help reduce cravings and withdrawal, block the effects of opioids, and support recovery. Thank you,Robert MelvinNortheast Region State Government Affairs DirectorR Street Institutermelvin@rstreet.org[1] “Harm Reduction,” R Street Institute. [2] “Harm Reduction,” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, April 24, 2023. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/harm-reduction.

Source: New York Times January 23, 2026 16:31 UTC