White House Drug Policy Director Statement on Overdose Awareness Week

Today at the White House, Biden-Harris Administration officials to meet with families who have lost a loved one to overdose and advocates from across the country

Today, ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day, the Biden-Harris Administration will host families who have lost a loved one to overdose and advocates from across the country at the White House. President Biden declared August 25 through August 31 as Overdose Awareness Week to mourn those we have lost, acknowledge the devastating toll the overdose epidemic has taken across our country, reflect on the progress we have made, and recommit to doing even more to provide support and save lives. During the meeting, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Dr. Rahul Gupta, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon will highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's historic whole-of-government actions and investments to address this issue, uplift the stories of underserved communities directly impacted by this crisis, and discuss the critical importance of a whole-of-society effort to beat this epidemic and save lives.

"During Overdose Awareness Week, we reflect and remember all the lives we have lost to drug overdose. Far too many Americans across the country know the pain of losing a loved one to overdose, and we mourn for their loss," said ONDCP Director Dr. Gupta. "This is an issue that touches every corner and community in every state - which is why President Biden made addressing the overdose epidemic a key pillar of his Unity Agenda for the Nation. Over the past four years, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made this issue a top priority, and directed their Administration to take more action and make more investments than ever before to address this crisis head-on. While progress has been made, we know there is still much more to do. We are continuing to work every day to strengthen our efforts, crack down on illicit drug trafficking, and ensure everyone can get the life-saving services and support they need. We are grateful to the families and advocates joining us at the White House today for their tireless work to raise awareness and make an impact in their community, and we are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of Americans all across the country just like them who are working day in and day out to strengthen our whole-of-society efforts to beat this epidemic and save lives."

President Biden made addressing the overdose epidemic a key pillar of his Unity Agenda for the Nation, which focuses on issues where all Americans can come together to make progress and save lives.

Read more on Biden-Harris Administration actions to address the nation's overdose epidemic HERE.

Read President Biden's full Proclamation on Overdose Awareness Week HERE.

###