October 24th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
Public health experts in Maryland are applauding President Donald Trump’s plan to declare an emergency to confront the nation’s opioid crisis, but warn the impact of the move will depend heavily on the steps his administration takes after the paperwork is signed. Trump, who vowed to address the overdose epidemic during the presidential campaign last year, said he would formalize the emergency declaration this week — two months after he floated the idea. An emergency declaration has the potential to be more than a symbolic gesture. It can free up untapped funding and allow officials to bypass federal regulations that some say have hampered the response to a public health crisis that kills 91 Americans every day. Maryland Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford heads the state’s opioid task force…
