Focuses on preventing death and illness.
President Biden’s administration sent its first drug control strategy to Congress for review last week. Though there have been many federal drug control strategies in the past, this is the first national plan that emphasizes harm reduction over punitive measures.
Harm reduction focuses on preventing death and illness from drug overdose rather than simply making drugs illegal. The plan follows the advice of the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Rahul Gupta, and the American Medical Association, who strongly advocate for making naloxone, the antidote to many drug overdoses, available over-the-counter at most drug stores.
“All too often, these drugs wind up in communities where naloxone isn’t readily available… where harm reduction services are restricted or underfunded, where there are unacceptable barriers to treatment.” Dr. Gupta stated. “Everyone who wants treatment should be able to get it.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Director Gupta as he addresses the opioid crisis in the nation.
- For members of Congress as they review the administration’s drug control plan.
- That the president would seek God’s wisdom as he and his advisors craft domestic policies.
Sources: The Hill, Reuters
