US congressman announces US$270,000 grant to support women’s health

A US congressman has announced a US$270,000 grant in federal funding to treat and raise awareness of endometriosis and opioid addiction in women.

The democrat Donald Norcross has said that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will grant the funding to Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) to help increase their capacity to treat endometriosis among women and curtail the disease of opioid addiction in South Jersey. 

Endometriosis, a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and infertility problems, affects roughly 190 million women of reproductive age globally and could lead to life-threatening complications and opiate use disorder.  

“RowanSOM is working every day to deliver life-saving care in South Jersey, and this grant will expand access to those who need it most,” said Norcross.

“It will help South Jersey professionals continue to develop world-class medical care and raise public health awareness for Americans suffering from chronic pain and the disease of addiction. I will continue fighting for legislation in Congress that equips health care professionals with the resources they need to help women at risk for fatal overdose.” 

Dr Lauren Spivack of the School of Osteopathic Medicine and principal investigator of the grant said: “I want to thank congressman Norcross for the continued support of our school and of women’s health issues, and I am grateful to the Department of Health and Human Services for funding this project.

“Endometriosis occurs in nearly 10 per cent of women and in over 70 per cent of those with chronic pelvic pain.

“A recent study indicated that nearly 38 per cent of women found to have endometriosis were at high risk of chronic opiate use conditions to address their endometriosis-related pain.”

She added: “Our project will target this population to develop education on endometriosis, identify women at risk of the disease, and link them with providers in the community trained to treat endometriosis, all in an effort to decrease opiate abuse for those women suffering from chronic pelvic pain.”  

As a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, congressman Norcross has made efforts to expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatments.

The RowanSOM has been known for addressing substance abuse disorders. By receiving the grant, the medical school will increase its capacity to implement treatments for endometriosis in those suffering from substance abuse disorder and chronic pain.