White House prioritizes opioid abuse in first national drug control strategy

By Maegan Vazquez, CNN
Updated 2235 GMT (0635 HKT) January 31, 2019

Washington (CNN) — The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy outlined Thursday its top priorities for combating illicit drug abuse and distribution in the United States in the office's first National Drug Control Strategy.

The release of the report comes the same day that the drug control office's first permanent director since the Obama administration, Jim Carroll, was sworn-in by Vice President Mike Pence.

"Our No. 1 goal is to save American lives, and this comprehensive plan reaffirms President Trump's commitment to addressing the opioid crisis aggressively and in partnership with our partners across the nation," Carroll said in a statement regarding the strategy's release.

"We must be relentless in our efforts to tackle the scourge of addiction that has affected so many families and communities across the United States. The Strategy builds upon our current whole-of-government approach that educates Americans about the dangers of drug abuse, ensures those struggling with addiction get the help they need, and stops the flow of illegal drugs across our borders," he said.

The strategy, which is much shorter than those released under the Obama administration, maintains a major, concentrated focus on opioid abuse and addiction prevention, and references several recommendations provided by President Donald Trump's commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis in its 2017 final report.

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