NSC unveils comprehensive plan for presidential candidates to combat opioid misuse
NSC – along with more than 50 organizations – urges candidates to adopt the plan in full or use it to close gaps in existing strategies
The National Safety Council (NSC), in partnership with more than 50 organizations and companies nationwide, released a comprehensive, inclusive strategy to address opioid misuse that all presidential candidates – regardless of party – should either adopt in full or use to close gaps in existing plans and policies. The National Plan to Address Opioid Misuse lays out actions that must be taken to effectively confront each stage of the addiction life cycle, from prevention to recovery.
NSC analyzed every candidate’s opioid plan to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The analysis revealed all candidates’ plans include some critical directives, including increasing access to medication-assisted treatments and increasing prescriber education. However, none address employers’ roles and responsibilities, nor do plans call for expanded data collection to help understand the scope and complexity of the overdose crisis more clearly. Similarly, only two plans include a description of prevention efforts the candidate would implement should he or she be elected.