White House to Declare National Emergency Over Opioid Abuse

President Trump said the White House is drawing up documents to officially declare the opioid addiction crisis a national emergency — two days after HHS Secretary Tom Price said the administration would pursue other avenues.

Speaking to reporters at his Bedminster, N.J. country club Thursday, Trump said the government was going to “spend a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money on the opioid crisis.” It is unclear what prompted the change in policy.

Two days earlier, Price skirted questions about an official declaration after briefing the president in person — instead pitching other strategies such as limiting prescription quantities, promoting the use of non-euphoric painkillers and developing an anti-addiction vaccine.