How to win the war on opioids

How to win the war on opioids The numbers around drug addiction in the United States are staggering. In 2016 alone, an estimated 20.1 million Americans—about 1 in 13 people aged 12 or older—had a substance use disorder. For President Donald J. Trump, addiction is more than just a policy issue. As a young man, he witnessed the pain of addiction in his family. Now as President, he is fighting back. Today, the White House will convene a major summit on opioids. A number of senior Administration officials will join about 200 participants from across the Nation, including Americans who have suffered from opioid abuse or watched as a loved one struggled with such an addiction. "It is time to liberate our communities from this scourge," President Trump says. See 3 ways the entire Administration has mobilized to address this crisis. The big picture: America's resurgent economy Inside the Beltway, people often forget that what matters most to ordinary Americans is results. And recent news showing surging small-business and consumer confidence, near record low unemployment claims, and expectations of continued economic momentum is good news for U.S. workers and their families. A few headlines paint the picture: US Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Level Since 2000 (The Associated Press) Record Number of U.S. Small-Business Owners Say It's a Good Time to Expand (Bloomberg) U.S. Jobless Claims near 45-Year Low as Economic Outlook Brightens (Reuters) Fed Thinks the Economy Has Momentum, Thanks Partly to Tax Cuts, Global Growth (Washington Examiner) After 8 years of a presidential administration not taking economic growth seriously enough, President Trump has committed to an agenda that puts U.S. workers and businesses first. Learn more: Headlines that tell the story of America's resurgent economy Moving forward with school safety President Trump hosted a bipartisan group of Members of Congress at the White House yesterday to discuss legislation to address the recent horrors of mass shootings. Lawmakers shared ideas on a number of solutions, including improving Federal reporting on background checks, reforming FBI tip-handling procedures, increasing security at schools, and addressing emergency preparedness. The President has hosted a number of such listening sessions in the two weeks following the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida. "This is bipartisan," President Trump told the Members of Congress yesterday. "We're determined to turn our grief into action. I really believe that. I think that the people at this table want it." Watch the President's meeting with Members of Congress. Photo of the Day President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump honor the late Reverend Billy Graham | February 28, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) POTUS TODAY Today, President Trump will host a meeting about school safety before having lunch with Vice President Pence and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. In the afternoon, the President will meet with members of the Senate. This morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the United States Department of Homeland Security's 15th Anniversary.