This can't become War on Drugs 2.0

I applaud President Trump for his declaration of the opioid crisis as a national emergency. That praise is not without reservation, however, as it comes with a stern warning. We cannot let President Trump's handling of the opioid crisis become the War on Drugs 2.0.

The CDC has reported that in the past two decades, the number of Americans who have died from opioid overdoses has quadrupled. It is estimated that 91 people die every day from complications related to opioid addiction, including overdose. Roughly one quarter of people who are prescribed opioids do not use them at proper intervals and dosages. Yet the pace at which opioids are being prescribed is staggering, with nearly 240 million prescriptions written each year. The funding that will be allotted due to President Trump's declaration is much needed to address this.

However, I urge President Trump to consider that the opioid crisis will not be improved through harsher sentencing and stricter police enforcement. It certainly will not be remedied through legislation and sentencing disparities that target already disadvantaged demographics. We need more effective treatment programs, less addictive forms of pain management and proper training for first responders in the use and administration of Naloxone for overdose victims. Only then can we successfully fight this epidemic.

Juliana Morawski

Crystal Lake