The United States is battling a surge in opioid-related deaths, including 33,000 lives lost in 2015, more than any year on record, according to federal data.
“The opioid is a tremendous emergency,” President Trump told Fox Business Network. “Next week, I’m going to (be) declaring an emergency, (a) national emergency on drugs.”
President Trump who has never smoked a cigarette, taken drugs or had an alcoholic drink, is expected to provide a preview of his plans for tackling drug demand and the opioid crisis in remarks on Thursday.
President Trump said in August that he would declare opioid abuse a national emergency.
Opioids, primarily prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl – a drug 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine – are fuelling the drug overdoses.
The declaration by President Trump could help unlock more support and resources to address the drug overdose epidemic, such as additional funding and expanded access to various forms of treatment, and it gives the government more flexibility in waiving rules and restrictions to expedite action.