Trump taps Christie to lead panel on opioid abuse
President Donald Trump jokes with former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, during a listening session on opioid and drug abuse Wednesday in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. From left are, Rivera, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Trump. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he’s honored President Donald Trump has selected him to chair a commission focused on combating the nation’s opioid addiction crisis.
The president called Christie “a very effective guy” when he met with him at the White House to kick off the commission Wednesday.
In a Fox News interview, Christie said it’s an issue he and Trump care passionately about.
“This is an epidemic in our country, and what this task force hopes to do is to look at the issue of prevention, obviously interdiction of drugs before the come to our country, but also and very importantly the issue of treatment.”
Christie has made efforts to end the opioid problem a top priority for the remainder of his term as governor.
He signed legislation last month that requires insurance companies to cover six months of treatment.
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