Reframing the Opioid Epidemic as a National Emergency

Authors

Lawrence O. Gostin, Georgetown UniversityFollow
James G. Hodge, Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of LawFollow
Sarah A. Noe, University of Pennsylvania Law SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-23-2017

Abstract

On August 10, 2017 President Trump announced his intention to declare a national emergency following the recommendation of the White House Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Opioid abuse is among the most consequential preventable public health threats facing the nation. More than 600,000 deaths have occurred to date, with 180,000 more predicted by 2020. Of the 20.5 million US residents 12 years or older with substance use disorders in 2015, 2 million were addicted to prescription pain relievers. A national emergency declaration authorizes public health powers, mobilizes resources, and facilitates innovative strategies to curb a rapidly escalating public health crisis.

Publication Citation

JAMA (Online First), Aug. 23, 2017, at E1-E2

Scholarly Commons Citation

Gostin, Lawrence O.; Hodge, James G.; and Noe, Sarah A., "Reframing the Opioid Epidemic as a National Emergency" (2017). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 1999.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/1999