Rx Summit 2022 Key Takeaways eBook - 4

ONDCP
Director
Talks
Priorities,
Principles
of Drug
Crisis
Response
Shortly before the administration of President Joe Biden
was set to unveil its first national drug control strategy,
Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, director, Office of
National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), discussed the
action items and principles at the core of the plan
during an address at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit
in Atlanta, Georgia.
With the nation struggling with what
Gupta described as " the most dynamic
drug supply " in US history, Dr. Gupta said
his discussions with leaders across the
field have produced three key themes:
> Lead with compassion
> Use data to guide policy
> Focus on high-impact actions
" That's exactly the approach we are
taking, " he said.
The Biden administration's national drug
control strategy will take action based on
available evidence, science, and data, and
advance equity in healthcare and criminal
justice, Dr. Gupta said.
In the near term, the administration is
prioritizing four actions:
getting naloxone into the hands
of all who need it without fear
of judgment. Naloxone is a highimpact
harm reduction tool, and such
interventions not only prevent overdose
deaths and reduce the transmission of
diseases, but also help providers build
trust and improve engagement, Dr. Gupta
said. " We have to meet people where they
are, but not leave them there, " he said.
expanding access to treatment.
With less than 10% of those in need of
substance use disorder (SUD) treatment
currently receiving it, Dr. Gupta said
the administration will look to revise
outdated policies that are putting up
barriers. Federal officials will also prioritize
expanding access to care for high-risk
populations, such as those experiencing
homelessness and those who are either
incarcerated or recently released.
disrupting trasnational criminal
organizations and their illicit
financial networks and supply
chains. " We must be innovative and
hit traffickers where it hurts most:
their wallets, " Dr. Gupta said. The
administration will target traffickers
through sanctions and disrupt their
abilities to transfer capital that funds
illicit activities.
" This work is critical because if it is easier
to get illicit drugs in America than it is to
get treatment, we will never be able to
bend the curve on overdoses, " Dr. Gupta
said.
ramp up data and research. Without
consistent and timely measures, federal
agencies have a limited ability to identify
drug trends, target the illicit supply chain,
and identify individuals at the greatest risk
for addiction, Dr. Gupta said.
In addition to those four pillars, Dr.
Gupta said ONDCP will look for ways to
continue enhancing its efforts to prevent
SUD before it starts, especially among
adolescents. This includes screening
young people for addiction risk factors, as
well as addressing societal issues, such as
child poverty and unemployment.
" I look forward to sharing more details
with you soon, but I want you to know this
is a whole-of-government approach, "
Dr. Gupta said. " We need your support.
We are committed to working with leaders
from red states and blue states, because
the overdose epidemic doesn't care
about politics. "
reference Gupta R. Plenary. Presented at: Rx and Illicit Drug Summit; April 18-21; Atlanta, Georgia.
key takeaways from rx summit 2022
rx-summit.com 4

http://www.rx-summit.com

Rx Summit 2022 Key Takeaways eBook

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rx Summit 2022 Key Takeaways eBook