Following Donald Trump’s opioid briefing with Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, where neither made a strong commitment to utilizing treatment services or adopt the other recommendations made by the White House opioid commission, DNC Deputy Communications Director Sabrina Singh released the following statement:

“Since taking office President Trump has proposed catastrophic budget cuts to Medicaid and has spearheaded countless Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The actions by Trump and Republicans would worsen the opioid crisis affecting so many of our communities. Now, despite strong concerns from experts that treatment services should be prioritized, Trump and Secretary Price are fully embracing the failed tactic of fighting this epidemic with law enforcement.”

“What’s more troubling is hearing the President say things like, ‘if they don’t start, they won’t have a problem.’ It shows a serious lack of understanding when it comes to this issue. Instead of offering empty slogans, the President needs to offer real solutions to communities ravaged by this epidemic and call this crisis for what it is – a national emergency.”