The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the renewal of the public health emergency declaration concerning the opioid crisis by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. This action will maintain federal coordination efforts and preserve essential flexibilities that allow HHS to continue utilizing expanded authorities in response to the opioid overdose crisis.
“Although overdose deaths are starting to decline, opioid-involved overdoses remain the leading cause of drug-related fatalities,” stated HHS Secretary Kennedy. “This Administration is going to treat this urgent crisis in American health as the national security emergency that it is. Renewing the Opioid Public Health Emergency Declaration affirms the Administration’s commitment to addressing the opioid overdose crisis and is one of many critical steps we will take to Make America Healthy Again.”
Initially declared under President Trump’s leadership in 2017, the public health emergency was due to expire on March 21, 2025. The renewal extends it for another 90 days. This declaration grants the Secretary certain powers necessary for responding to emergencies, including facilitating voluntary information collections, expediting demonstration projects related to substance use disorder treatment, and supporting research on opioid use disorder treatments.
Despite provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a 25.5% decrease in overdose deaths over a year ending October 2024 compared with 2023, around 150 Americans still die daily from overdoses involving illegal synthetic opioids like illegally made fentanyl. Overdose remains a leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-44.
The Administration and HHS continue their dedication to preventing substance use initiation, reducing overdose fatalities, aiding recovery from substance use disorders, and promoting healthy living among Americans.
Secretary Kennedy's renewal of the PHE declaration was conducted under his authority granted by the Public Health Service Act.
