Obama, Macklemore make a pitch for better opioid treatment
WASHINGTON >> President Barack Obama has joined forces with the rap artist Macklemore to improve efforts to reach out to those addicted to opioids and those who overdose on the drug often found in prescription painkillers.
Obama and the rap artist appear on a video in the White House weekly address to talk about a problem that has been rapidly growing worse in recent years. Macklemore notes he abused the drugs and battled addiction.
The president says his administration is pushing for improved treatment, and he notes Congress has moved ahead on several measures. The House this week passed measures setting up federal grants and taking other steps to battle the drug epidemic.
Obama says “unless they also make actual investments in more treatment, it won’t get Americans the help they need.”
6 responses to “Obama, Macklemore make a pitch for better opioid treatment”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Many of these people addicted to pain killers weren’t using them to reduce pain. They were using them to get a high. People who are stu*pid enough to use drugs to get high can find their own solution to their problems. If they die, there’s no loss for they have brought it on themselves and also brought grief and suffering to their family.
Ever see a picture or video of HIM when he hasn’t been talking? HE comments on everything–one exception–the mass murders in Chicago. THAT I would think should take precedent. Get the troops home from Afghanistan and put thin in Illinois, his adopted home.
Obama has to work on his priorities. For the last almost eight years he’s been adrift.
From the “cops acted stupidly” to transgender “rights” supersedes the “rights of the majority” in all public schools if public schools still want continued govt funding. O, the WORST potus in American history.
Incumbents will have a rough election season.
You can call opioid addicts whatever you wish, but the sad, ugly truth is that along with being a pain reliever, it is a remarkable anti-depressant in the short term. People who begin taking opiates, be it for a sore back, car accident or whatever feel considerably better about themselves and their well being. This is short lived however and the body quickly adjust to this chemical and it becomes the brain and body’s new Normal. Once taken away the user/abuser go’s into both physical and mental withdrawal. If you have never witnessed someone in acute opiate withdrawal, they are in all senses of the word….Sick ! ! It is extremely difficult to quit w/o some type of help in a controlled setting. Many in the clutches of Opioid Addiction really want to Stop, but cannot do it on their own. The physical and mental cravings are to great. Outside of In-Patient treatment facilities there now is Help in a one on one Dr-Patient setting using maintenance drugs to stabilize the disease. Yes, it is a disease and can be arrested and treated. Unless we start to treat it as a disease and not “Stereotype” everyone into the junkie category, we can maybe start to get folks the help they need. Please remember, this drug does not discriminate. Judges, Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Bus Drivers, Airline Pilots, it does not matter who you are or what you do, it WILL control your life and take you down if you give it half a chance.