Durbin Meets With Biden's Nominee To Lead The Office Of National Drug Control Policy
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominee to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). During their meeting, Durbin and Gupta discussed the Doctor’s work combatting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and how he will draw upon his extensive public health experience to meet ONDCP’s mission of reducing substance use disorders and the impact of addiction in America.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic tore through our communities, so did our nation's opioid epidemic, with drug overdose deaths surging to an all-time high in 2020,” said Durbin. “Dr. Gupta has the experience, knowledge, and vision we need to strengthen ONDCP and develop an evidence-based comprehensive response strategy to expand access to treatment and prevent the pain of addiction.”
If confirmed, Dr. Gupta will be the first medical doctor to head ONDCP. Prior to this role, his decades-long career includes serving as the Commissioner and State Health Officer for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Executive Director and Health Officer of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department in Charleston, WV. Gupta is expected to appear before the Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks.
A photo of today’s meeting is available here.
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