"This epidemic is a national health emergency," he said. The Stafford Act, though, has traditionally been used to provide recovery money to natural disasters, most recently from Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey. The nationwide health emergency that Trump ordered is more tailored and directed, but comes with less immediate action. "I do think the Public Health Service Act is more appropriate route to take than the Stafford Act designation," he said. The Stafford Act is not structured to deal with a long term, complicated public health crisis like the opioid crisis."

Source: CNN October 26, 2017 16:41 UTC