Commission on Drug Addiction and Opioid Crisis Makes Announcement

The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addition and Opioid Crisis will discuss its mission and purpose in a 12:30 p.m. Eastern briefing.

The commission was formed out of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 29, 2017.

“It shall be the policy of the executive branch to combat the scourge of drug abuse, addiction, and overdose (drug addiction), including opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose (opioid crisis),” the policy section of the order reads. “This public health crisis was responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in 2015 alone, most of which involved an opioid, and has caused families and communities across America to endure significant pain, suffering, and financial harm.”

“The Commission is established in the interest of obtaining advice and recommendations for the President regarding the opioid crisis,” a statement accompanying the video feed read. “The Commission functions solely as an advisory body and makes recommendations regarding policies and practices for combating drug addiction with particular focus on the current opioid crisis in the United States.”

According to the statement, the Commission’s objectives are to:

a. identify and describe the existing Federal funding used to combat drug addiction and the
opioid crisis;
b. assess the availability and accessibility of drug addiction treatment services and overdose
reversal throughout the country and identify areas that are underserved;
c. identify and report on best practices for addiction prevention, including healthcare provider
education and evaluation of prescription practices, collaboration between State and Federal
officials, and the use and effectiveness of State prescription drug monitoring programs;
d. review the literature evaluating the effectiveness of educational messages for youth and
adults with respect to prescription and illicit opioids;
e. identify and evaluate existing Federal programs to prevent and treat drug addiction for their
scope and effectiveness, and make recommendations for improving these programs; and
f. make recommendations to the President for improving the Federal response to drug addiction and
the opioid crisis.