White House Press Release - Stop Illicit Drug Use Before It's Too Late

By: Jim Carroll, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

As our country battles its greatest public health threat — the addiction crisis — we all have a role to play in making our nation a safer, healthier place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 70,200 precious lives were lost due to a drug overdose in 2017. That was approximately 200 drug overdose deaths per day, and this crisis has left no corner of our country untouched.

That's why President Donald Trump, in response to the opioid crisis, announced a national public health emergency, and put in place an initiative to stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand.

The most effective way to support this initiative is to prevent drug abuse in the first place.

Read the full op-ed here.