About a month ago, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. He’s spent a lot of time talking about the severity of the drug crisis. But he’s spent less time outlining the specific steps he’ll take to fight it. Today, a White House analysis declared that the true cost of the opioid epidemic in 2015 was more than half a trillion dollars.
As Trump formulates his plan, All Things Considered’s Elise Hu spoke with Dr. Jerome Adams, the president’s surgeon general, about what’s next. Excerpts of the interview follow, edited for length and clarity.
What actions should we expect to see from the president and when?
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