Trump Urged To Declare National Emergency Over Opioid Epidemic
“With approximately 142 Americans dying every day,” notes the report from the president's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, “America is enduring a death toll equal to September 11th every three weeks.”
The Associated Press:
Trump Drug Commission Calls For Emergency Declaration
President Donald Trump's drug commission has called on him to declare a national emergency to deal with the country's opioid drug epidemic. The commission sent an initial report to the Republican president on Monday saying the approximately 142 deaths each day from drug overdoses mean the death toll is "equal to September 11th every three weeks." (7/31)
USA Today:
Commission Urges President Trump To Declare Emergency Over Opioid Crisis
"It would also awaken every American to this simple fact: If this scourge has not found you or your family yet, without bold action by everyone, it soon will," the report reads. "You, Mr. president, are the only person who can bring this type of intensity to the emergency and we believe you have the will to do so and to do so immediately." (Estepa, 7/31)
The Washington Post:
White House Opioid Commission To Trump: “Declare A National Emergency” On Drug Overdoses
The commission, led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, states that the goals of such a declaration would be to “force Congress to focus on funding” and to “awaken every American to this simple fact: if this scourge has not found you or your family yet, without bold action by everyone, it soon will.” (Ingraham, 7/31)
The New York Times:
White House Panel Recommends Declaring National Emergency On Opioids
In addition to seeking an emergency declaration, the commission proposed waiving a federal rule that sharply limits the number of Medicaid recipients who can receive residential addiction treatment. It also called for expanding access to medications that help treat opioid addiction, requiring “prescriber education initiatives” and providing model legislation for states to allow a standing order for anyone to receive naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses. (Goodnough, 7/31)