*From:* Tara Palmeri <xxx@politico.com> *Date:* August 8, 2017 at 5:22:37 PM EDT
*Subject:* *Pool report #8*
HHSSecretary Tom Price and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway briefed the press at the Bridgewater Marriott Hotelfollowing ameeting with President Trump on the opioid epidemic at the Trump National Golf Clubin Bedminster, N.J.
Price called it,"an extremely productive meeting," adding that "the president is fully engaged."
Price called the number of deaths related to opioid overdose "absolutely daunting."
They discussed overdose reversing medication and analyzing data related to the crisis.
He said they've been working on a vaccine for addiction.
Counselor Kellyanne Conway said she has traveled around the country speaking to people who have beaten the opioid epidemic.
"We didn't get here overnight, so we can't deal with this overnight," Conway said.
"It's an increasing concern that addiction is plaguing our veteran community."
She said that National Health Service estimates that every 25 minutes, a newborn is born addicted to opioids.
She also said that they're working on educating doctors aboutFentanyl.
"No state has been spared, and no demographic group has been untouched," Conway said.
"It is also a nonpartisan issue in search of non-partisan support," Conway said.
Highlights from the questions:
Price was repeatedly asked why the president is not declaring a national emergency, as his opioid commission recommended last week.
The president certainly believes that it is, that we will treat it as an emergency and it is an emergency.When you have the capacity of Yankee stadium or Dodger stadium dying every single year in this nation, thats a crisis that has to be given incredible attention and the president is giving it that attention."
Later:Most national emergencies that have been declared in the area of public health emergency have been focused on a specific area, a time-limited problem either an infectious disease or a specific threat to public health. The two most recent that come to mind are the Zika outbreak and Hurricane Sandy. So we believe that at this point, the resources that we need or the focus that we need to bring to bear to the opioid crisis, at this point, can be addressed without the declaration of an emergency. Although all things are on the table for the president."
Kellyanne Conway called the President's earlier statements on North Korea "very strongand obvious," and declined to comment further.
TARA PALMERI |*POLITICO*| White House Reporter I M: (973) -xxx-xxxx I O: (703) -xxx-xxxx| xxx@politico.com
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