Dr. Rahul Gupta Statement on President Biden’s Call to Action on the Overdose Epidemic During State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), issued a statement regarding President Biden’s State of the Union Address. Tonight, President Biden highlighted historic steps the Administration is taking as part of his Unity Agenda to go after illicit fentanyl trafficking through targeted actions and remove barriers to treatment for opioid use disorder at a time when fewer than 1 out of 10 Americans who need care can access it.

“The overdose epidemic is not a red state problem or a blue state problem – it’s America’s problem and the President has reaffirmed his commitment to continuing our work together to beat this crisis. In last year’s State of the Union, the President called for removing barriers to treatment, and we have delivered on that – working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to remove the X-waiver. And under President Biden’s leadership, our Nation has seized more illicit fentanyl at the border and domestically, denying nearly $9 billion of profits to drug traffickers last year. Because of these efforts, combined with our historic public health advances, we have now seen five straight months where overdose numbers have decreased. This is a hopeful sign, but we can’t slow down. Through the actions announced today, we will hold drug traffickers accountable, reduce overdose deaths, and save American lives.”

Read the State of the Union Fact Sheet about actions the Administration is taking to beat the opioid epidemic HERE.

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