President declares U.S. opioid abuse an emergency
But his action doesn’t add money to the fight
WASHINGTON — In ringing and personal terms, President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged that “we will overcome addiction in America,” declaring opioid abuse a national public health emergency and announcing new steps to combat what he described as the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.
Mr. Trump’s declaration, which will be effective for 90 days and can be renewed, will allow the government to redirect resources in various ways and to expand access to medical services in rural areas. But it won’t bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills nearly 100 people a day.
“As Americans we cannot allow this to continue,” Mr. Trump said in a speech at the White House, where he bemoaned an epidemic he said had spared no segment of society, affecting rural areas and cities, rich and poor and both the
elderly and newborns.
“It is time to liberate our communities from this scourge of drug addiction,” he said. “We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.”
Soon afterward, the acting health and human services secretary officially declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency, as requested by Mr. Trump.
Eric Hargan said in a statement that Mr. Trump “has made this national crisis a top priority since he took office in January.” And: “we are proud to be leading in this effort at HHS.”
Deaths have surged from opioids, which include some prescribed painkillers, heroin and synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, often sold on the nation’s streets.
Administration officials said they also would urge Congress, during end-of-the year budget negotiations, to add new cash to a public health emergency fund that Congress hasn’t replenished for years and contains just $57,000.
But critics said Thursday’s words weren’t enough.
“How can you say it’s an emergency if we’re not going to put a new nickel in it?” said Joseph Parks, medical director of the nonprofit National Council for Behavioral Health, which advocates for addiction treatment providers. “As far as moving the money around,” he added, “that’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said, “Show me the money.”
Mr. Trump’s audience Thursday included parents who have lost children to drug overdoses, people who have struggled with addiction, first responders and lawmakers.
The president also spoke about his own family’s experience with addiction: His older brother, Fred Jr., died after struggling with alcoholism. It’s the reason the president does not drink.
Mr. Trump described his brother as a “great guy, best looking guy,” with a personality “much better than mine.”
“But he had a problem, he had a problem with alcohol,” the president said. “I learned because of Fred.”
Mr. Trump said he hoped a massive advertising campaign, which sounded reminiscent of the 1980s “Just Say No” campaign, might have a similar impact.
“If we can teach young people, and people generally, not to start, it’s really, really easy not to take ‘em,” he said.
It’s a path taken by previous presidents, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, all of whom tried to rally the nation to confront drug abuse but fell short of solving the problem. Some people have become hooked on opioids after being prescribed prescription pain killers by doctors after injuries or surgery.
Some also faulted the White House for not issuing a wider emergency declaration to deal with the crisis.
Rob Brandt, an Ohio man who lost his 20-year-old son to a heroin overdose in 2011, called Mr. Trump’s public health emergency order a “good incremental step,” but urged greater focus on prevention and long-term treatment.
“The federal government has lagged behind in truly decisive action,” said Mr. Brandt, who opened an opioid recovery center in Medina, Ohio, this year, run on private donationsand grants.
“We lost 64,000 Americans last year,” he said, “and if you look at, if we were to have a foreign country attack us and kill 60,000 Americans or a terrorist attack that killed 60,000 Americans, we would print money to combat that.”
As a result of Mr. Trump’s declaration, officials will be able to expand access to telemedicine services, including substance abuse treatment for people living in rural and remote areas. Officials will also be able to more easily deploy state and federal workers, secure Department of Labor grants for the unemployed, and shift funding for HIV and AIDs programs to provide more substance abuse treatment for people already eligible for those programs.
Mr. Trump said his administration would also be working to reduce regulatory barriers, such as one that bars Medicaid from paying for addiction treatment in residential rehab facilities larger than 16 beds.