President Donald Tump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to speak today at the Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta at 1 PM EST. The Summit is an annual meeting of service providers, advocates and government and community leaders gather to share updated information and resoureces. Notable speakers in recent years have included President Barack Obama in 2016, Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Newt Gingrich in 2017, and President Bill Clinton and Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway in 2018.
President Trump declared the opioid problem a public health crisis in 2017 and unveiled is 3-part initiative to end opioid abuse last year.
According to WhiteHouse.gov, some of the recent actions taken to combat the rising overdose fatalities include:
– Securing $6 billion in new funding over a two-year period to fight opioid abuse.
– Implementing a Safer Prescribing Plan aimed at reducing opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years.
The President’s appearance comes on the heels of recent news of criminal charges against a pharmaceutical distributor. Said to be the first action of its kind, it is one area that had been previously overlooked. Additional attention has been placed on drug makers and their sales tactics, prompting civil and government actions as well.
Although targeting major suppliers and instigators of the opioid problem may play a key role in helping to reverse the overdose statistics, the more permanent solution still lies in treatment and prevention. Thankfully, much more emphasis is being placed on longer-term treatment engagements and recovery support systems. Life doesn’t happen in a bubble, so treatment that is only confined to a residential stay often fails to address the needs when people return home. This is why treatment providers like Centered Recovery Programs and others that offer ongoing outpatient care is so valuable.
If you have a loved one struggling with opioids or any other substance, contact Centered Recovery Programs today to find out more information about how we can help. Call 800-556-2966.
