NACDS says White House's collaborative program to combat drug abuse shows promise

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ (NACDS) last week applauded the White House's collaborative effort to combat opioid drug abuse.

Led by Tom Vilsack, the Agriculture Secretary, the program is an interagency effort.

Vilsack is the former chairman of the White House Rural Council, which is currently participating along with 29 federal agencies. These include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Vilsack will rely on his cross-departmental work as a model to deal with drug abuse and other health concerns that arise.

A study conducted by the NACDS over the summer revealed that those polled agreed that actions need to be taken regarding drug abuse. Almost eight out of every 10 voters said that pharmacies are responsible for helping bring awareness to prescription drug abuse and they need to help solve the problem.

The NACDS aims to develop solutions for prescription drug abuse. It will also present resolutions for other issues facing rural America, including health care access and wellness. All of these issues will be addressed by Vilsack's interagency committee.