Today President Donald Trump declared a public health emergency in response to the opioid epidemic, committing the full power of the federal government to address the issue. Paul Larkin, Senior Legal Research Fellow with The Heritage Foundation's Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, welcomed the move, saying:

“More Americans died in 2016 from drug overdoses than during the entire Vietnam War. President Trump is aware of the magnitude of the opiate abuse problems—and tragedies. Over the next few weeks, different agencies will announce numerous steps that each one will take. The Heritage Foundation looks forward to helping the president deal with this crisis.”