Commentary: WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall responded to President Trump’s declaration that the opioid crisis is a public health emergency – rather than the much stronger “national emergency” called for by the president’s own opioid commission.
Trump’s announcement does not include any significant new funding to fight the opioid epidemic. Udall is a cosponsor of the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act, which would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance, and treatment of opioid addiction.
Udall issued the following statement:
“Every day in New Mexico and across the country, 100 people will die in the opioid epidemic. New Mexico families already know this is an emergency – they need resources and results. While I welcome any action to combat this crisis, this declaration falls far short of what President Trump’s own commission called for and what he himself repeatedly promised to families that have faced untold pain and suffering at the hands of the opioid epidemic.
“Experts have plainly said over and over again that states and local communities can win the battle against addiction, but only if we invest real resources and action — not just lip service. We must ensure that anyone who wants treatment can get it, and that means funding the prevention, treatment and enforcement programs that work. But it also takes a strong economy and access to quality health care, including behavioral health services, to stop the cycle of addiction. President Trump and Republicans’ efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, decimate Medicaid, and reject new funding for the opioid crisis just take us backward. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep fighting for the comprehensive addiction and enforcement resources we need to fight the opioid emergency, as well as health care for all, quality education and jobs to lift up all of our communities."
“Americans need bold action on this epidemic. If the Trump administration is serious about saving lives, they need to actively seek and support major new funding for this national emergency in congressional appropriations before the end of the year.”