Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump, talked about the federal government’s strategy for addressing the opioid epidemic at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit: America’s Financial Future on November 13, 2018, at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 100 people die from drug overdoses every day. Conway described drug abuse in the country as the ‘crisis next door’ and more needs to be done.
“It’s basically a plane full of people a day is falling from the sky, God forbid, in terms of the number of people dying from drug overdoses each day. If a plane were falling from the sky every day we’d all stop whatever we’re doing and talk about nothing but that. I would suggest politely that we all stop what we’re doing and talk even just a little more about these issues,” she said.
Conway said the Trump administration is working with both Republicans and Democrats to address the issue.
“[The National Governors Association has] been terrific, and they’ve been very helpful on this, and NGA of course represents both Republican and Democratic governors. I’m very happy to be working with governors like Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Governor Carney of Delaware has been here, Governor Northam of Virginia. I mention Democratic governors, and we hope that will continue. I think the Democrats picked up seven governorships. I hope that I’m one of their first calls, because we definitely want to work with them on what we call the ‘crisis next door,” she said.
Conway touted legislation passed by Congress last month, dubbed Support for Patients and Communities Act, to confront the country’s drug problems.
“I think part of why it passed in bipartisan fashion is because everybody sees the need back at home, whether you represent a state or a congressional district […] law enforcement, access to treatment, certainly education and prevention,” she said.
Conway said she hopes the new Congress will work together on ways to further attack the problem.
Sibile Marcellus is an on-air reporter covering the day’s top stories in business for Yahoo Finance’s three daily live shows. Follow her on Twitter @sibileTV.
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