President Donald Trump's drug commission has called on him to declare a national emergency to deal with the country's opioid drug epidemic. — Increasing use of medications approved for treating opioid addiction in prisons. — Requiring doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in federally qualified health centers to get waivers to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication for opioid addiction. Christie made fighting drug addiction a cornerstone of his failed 2016 presidential campaign and has dedicated his last year in office to the issue. The group criticized an administration budget proposal that would cut nearly $400 million in funding for drug and mental health programs and the Department of Justice's escalating focus on treating drug addiction as a criminal justice issue.

Source: ABC News July 31, 2017 21:34 UTC