ONDCP Director Talks Priorities, Principles of Drug Crisis Response

With the administration of President Joe Biden set to unveil its first national drug control strategy on Thursday, Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDP), discussed the action items and principles at the core of the plan during an address on Wednesday evening 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 3 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, Gupta said.

In the near term, the administration is prioritizing 4 actions:

Getting naloxone into the hands of all who need it without fear of judgment. Naloxone is a high-impact 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of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment currently receiving it, Gupta said the administration will look to revise outdated policies that are putting up barriers.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 transnational 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 4 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.