Combatting the National Drug Demand and Opioid Crisis

This memorandum declares combating the opioid crisis as U.S. policy and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider declaring a public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act. It also instructs agency heads to use emergency and other authorities to reduce opioid-related deaths and community devastation.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 50305

Key directives

HHS Secretary shall consider declaring opioid crisis a Public Health Emergency under 42 U.S.C. 247d
Agency heads shall exercise all appropriate emergency authorities and other relevant authorities to reduce deaths and minimize community devastation

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

HHS Secretary directed to consider declaring public health emergency
Agency heads directed to exercise emergency authorities

Near term (90d)

Potential public health emergency declaration and associated resource mobilization

Long term

Sustained interdiction efforts targeting fentanyl from China and heroin from Mexico
Potential expansion of treatment and prevention programs dependent on emergency declaration follow-through

Risks & tensions

Consider language is non-mandatory, creating uncertainty whether declaration will actually occur
No dedicated funding appropriated; implementation constrained by 'subject to availability of appropriations'
Emergency authorities vary by statute and may not provide substantial new resources without congressional action
Tension between public health approach and law enforcement framing in document