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Good morning. Thank you for joining us.

From day one, President Biden has made combatting the opioid crisis and reducing overdose deaths a defining priority of this administration.

This isn’t just a policy goal—it’s a life-saving mission.

I’m happy to report that our efforts are WORKING, and that our policies are SAVING LIVES.

Today, the CDC released new data showing that from July 2023, to July 2024, overdose deaths are now down nearly 17 percent across America.

This is the largest reduction in recorded overdose deaths ever.

And this is no coincidence – efforts taken, investments made, and policies put in place by this Administration are having a positive impact.

In 2019 and 2020, Opioid overdose rates were skyrocketing.

President Biden recognized this crisis, taking immediate action to address this escalating tragedy.

  • To start, President Biden successfully called for a bipartisan legislative action to stop the flow of illicit fentanyl into our communities, while holding accountable those responsible for trafficking.
  • The Biden-Harris administration then expanded access to life-saving care across America,
    • We expanded the number of providers who could prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder, launched mobile vans to deliver medications to hard-to-reach populations.
    • We launched new public education campaigns, and increased funding for community prevention.
  • In a groundbreaking move, we made the lifesaving treatment, naloxone, over-the-counter, for the first time in history.
  • We then invested unprecedented amounts in State and Tribal Opioid Response programs. BILLIONS of dollars were sent to hard hit communities.
  • And crucially, in 2024, President Biden launched the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose.
  • The Challenge is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to increase access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone, and training on their use.
  • The Challenge has been an overwhelming success, with more than 270 organizations across the country committed, including Amazon, Deloitte, major sports franchises like the MLB and NHL, and major airlines like American, United, and Southwest.
  • Now, whether you’re a student or teacher in some of America’s biggest school districts, or if you’re watching a baseball game at any major league ballpark in the country, or if your 30,000 feet in the air on a flight, or 100 feet below ground on a train or metro-car—naloxone is nearby.

These resources have helped save over A HALF-MILLION LIVES.

BECAUSE GOOD POLICY SAVES LIVES. 

Today’s numbers from the CDC are proof-positive that these efforts are WORKING.

And that President Biden’s leadership has been INSTRUMENTAL in combatting the opioid epidemic.                                                             

But even with all this, far too many people are still dying from overdose.

Which is why we need to continue and expand on our current efforts.

We can’t afford to stop any of this work. Not for a second.

And we can’t afford to roll any of it back. The consequences wouldn’t just be dire, they would be deadly.

Because our policy actions are working.

They’re saving lives.

And there’s nothing, nothing, more important than that.

It’s now my distinct pleasure to introduce Dr. Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.  

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