President Joe Biden, in a speech in Philadelphia, called on Congress to take immediate action to address the rising number of deaths caused by fentanyl and other opioids.
Biden emphasized the urgency of the crisis, noting that over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the last year alone.
He proposed a comprehensive plan that includes increased funding for treatment and prevention, stricter penalties for drug traffickers, and expanded access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.
The president also stressed the importance of international cooperation to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
His remarks came during a visit to a community health center, where he met with families affected by the epidemic. Biden urged lawmakers to put aside partisan differences and act swiftly to save lives.