ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta Meets with Public Health and Safety Leaders in South Florida to Discuss Response to the Overdose Epidemic

Dr. Gupta heard from federal, state, and local partners on emerging threats and discussed decisive actions the Administration is taking to save lives

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – This week, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), traveled to South Florida where he met with federal, state, and local officials, as well as community leaders addressing addiction and the overdose epidemic. During his trip, Dr. Gupta discussed the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and expand access to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is working closely with public health and public safety officials in Florida and across the country to reduce the trafficking of illicit drugs and expand access to high impact public health interventions,” said Dr. Gupta. “Together, we will save lives.”

On Thursday, Dr. Gupta joined Administration and Congressional leaders aboard the Coast Guard Cutter JAMES to discuss the critical work being done to interdict the trafficking of illicit drugs as part of the Administration’s efforts to address addiction and the overdose epidemic. Dr. Gupta also met with law enforcement officials from the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program and leaders at U.S. Southern Command to hear about their work to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. On Friday, Dr. Gupta participated in a youth-led roundtable with students of the Hialeah Community Coalition to discuss local prevention efforts.

Read about additional actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to address addiction and the overdose epidemic HERE.

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