By Paul Fuhr 11/03/17

Drug court expansion, prevention ad campaigns and wider availability of naloxone were among the commission's recommendations.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the chair of the opioid commission
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the chair of the opioid commission Photo via YouTube

On Wednesday, President Trump’s opioid crisis committee issued dozens of official recommendations in its efforts to combat the epidemic.

According to Reuters, the bipartisan panel suggested tighter prescription guidelines, improved law enforcement methods, comprehensive prevention programs and more drug courts, among other ideas.

Headed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the opioid commission made 56 recommendations in all, which it detailed in its 131-page final report. However, commissioners declined to put a price tag on their suggestions and instead urged Congress to “appropriate sufficient funds” to support Trump’s recent declaration that the opioid crisis is a public health emergency.

While some experts applauded the panel’s recommendations, just as many decried the report’s lack of specificity. Without details, the plan doesn’t define how the solutions will actually be carried out, the Reuters story said. One lawyer described the measures as “toothless” if there is no funding to support the report’s ideas. Still, others tried to remain optimistic about the report’s suggestions.

"This sounds to me like a very progressive and very needed move," Kosali Simon, an Indiana University health economist said of the commission’s report. Truth be told, officials and lawmakers have been challenged to determine the actual cost of addiction treatment.

Earlier this year, Senate Republicans unsuccessfully tried to give $45 billion in grant money to all of the states hardest hit by the opioid crisis. (An earlier version of the bill suggested only $2 billion for those same states.) Regardless, Ohio Governor John Kasich remarked that the $45 billion plan was “anemic” and was “like spitting in the ocean.”

and much more

https://www.thefix.com/trump-s-opioid-commission-makes-its-final-recommendations