Trump Declares a National Emergency

President Donald J. Trump declared that the opioid epidemic was a national emergency, which follows up to Chris Christie and the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. This occurred on Thursday, August 11 from his golf club in New Jersey.

According to CNN, Trump said, “The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I am saying, officially, right now, it is an emergency. It’s a national emergency…We’re going to spend a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money on the opioid crisis. It is a serious problem the likes of which we have never had.”

For a quick bit of humor, it’s reminiscent of the time Michael Scott, Steve Carell’s infamous character from The Office declared bankruptcy.

“I declare BANKRUPTCY,” the naive manager yelled to the office. He thought that was how to declare bankruptcy.

This Michael Scott sketch is relevant because Trump’s declaration doesn’t actually mean anything. Trump didn’t state what the plans were for solving the opioid crises, that will come at a later time.

But if you take the president at his word, it’s not known if increased treatment will be an option for people. That’s why this announcement is alarming. Instead, the president opted to bring up a reoccurring talking point: The law and order approach. Trump stated that stopping the flow of drugs into the country is one of the top priorities of this national emergency.

This is rather alarming because the key to saving people from drug addiction isn’t cutting off their supply. For those who have used drugs or alcohol before, the withdrawal is the worst part about an addiction. Cutting the supply of all the addicted people in the country will only prove to put these people into a panicked state of withdrawal. Without treatment lined up, many of these drug users will just turn to different drugs.

For now, it’s impossible to tell what Trump’s plan will be for the national emergency. While the president made a smart move calling the opioid epidemic a national emergency, it’s too early to tell if Trump is the right man to lead the charge.

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Medical disclaimer:

Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance use disorder, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.

Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.

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