Dr. Gupta Applauds Removal of X-Waiver in Omnibus, Urges Healthcare Providers to Treat Addiction
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), released a statement on the bipartisan omnibus appropriations bill signed into law by President Biden that includes key provisions to expand access to treatment for substance use disorder, provide additional resources to first responders on the front lines of the overdose epidemic, and extend important controls enabling law enforcement officials to reduce the supply and availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related substances (FRS) driving overdose deaths. In outlining his Unity Agenda for the nation, President Biden called for bipartisan action to beat the overdose epidemic and save lives.
“President Biden has delivered on his commitment to remove a key barrier for health care providers across the country prescribing medication treatment for opioid use disorder,” said Dr. Gupta. “This is a major step forward in our ongoing work to ensure universal access to medication for substance use disorder care by 2025 that the President supports and I look forward to seeing more people with opioid use disorder get the help they need.”
Dr. Gupta applauded the omnibus bill last week, which also provides much-needed resources to those on the front lines of this crisis and ensures that our law enforcement officers have the critical tools they need to keep dangerous substances like illicitly manufactured fentanyl off the streets and away from our communities.
Read about key actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to make treatment for substance use disorder more accessible and other actions to expand access to prevention, harm reduction, recovery support services, and supply reduction efforts HERE.
Read about the President’s Strategy HERE.
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