Trump delays action on opioid menace

Despite the alarming rate of the opioid crisis with more than 142 Americans dying of drug overdoses each day, President Trump has hesitated in declaring a national emergency, in contrast to a recommendation by a committee constituted by the President last week, Washington Post reports.

Instead, the president on Tuesday met with health officials and members of his administration to receive an update on the crisis and briefly addressed reporters.

The President said the “best way to prevent drug addiction and overdose is to prevent people from abusing drugs in the first place .”

“If they don’t start, they won’t have a problem. If they do start, it’s awfully tough to get off,” Trump told reporters at his private golf club where he is on a working vacation.

He added, “So if we can keep them from going on, and maybe by talking to youth and telling them ‘No good, really bad for you in every way .’ But if they don’t start, it will never be a problem”.

Tom Price, the Health and Human Services Secretary told reporters that declaring a national emergency is a step usually reserved for “a time -limited problem” like the Zika outbreak or problems caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Mr Price said, “Declaring a state of emergency allows the government to quickly lift restrictions or waive rules so that states and local governments don’t have to wait to take action”. He also said that, “the administration can do the same sorts of things without declaring an emergency”.

He however concluded by saying the Trump administration is keeping the option on the table.

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