1600 Daily The White House • March 28, 2019 A raw, firsthand look at the ‘crisis next door’

The White House • March 28, 2019

A raw, firsthand look at the ‘crisis next door’ Opioids killed more people last year than either car accidents or gun violence. Among teens and young adults aged 15 to 24, a staggering three-quarters of all drug-related overdoses involve opioids. Behind each statistic is a story—often a heart-wrenching one. Sarah lost both her parents to fentanyl. “It’s very disturbing to walk down Main Street in your own city, and see people overdosed in alleyways and seeing needles littered on the ground—and have your child ask what they’re for.” See Sarah’s story. Ashley lost her only sister to an opioid addiction. “I had to call my mom and tell her. I was the first one in my family to find out.” See Ashley’s story. “I became a person I didn’t recognize,” Justin said. After being involved in a car accident, Justin was prescribed pain killers. Nearly five years later, he was addicted. “I dropped all my friends. I didn’t do anything but go to work and pop pills. And that’s not the way anybody should have to live their life.” See Justin’s story. If stories like these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Opioid abuse is truly the crisis next door, affecting everyone from football captains to stay-at-home moms. In 2019, two million Americans will suffer from addiction to prescription or illicit opioids. President Donald J. Trump has put the full weight of the Federal Government behind fighting the epidemic. A year ago, he launched the Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse, with a rare-for-Washington focus on tackling the root causes of the problem. The initiative aims to reduce opioid demand and overprescription in the United States, cut off the flow of illicit drugs, and improve treatment for those suffering with addiction. If you’ve been affected, you can help lift the silence and stigma of addiction in America. Share your story and see others at www.crisisnextdoor.gov. Learn how President Trump is working to end the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Ivanka Trump: More good news for American workers Today, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump visited Toyota Motor’s manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Kentucky—the company’s largest auto plant in the world—as part of the Trump Administration’s major push to expand job opportunities for American workers. Just two weeks ago, Toyota announced a massive $13 billion investment in the United States that will add about 600 new manufacturing jobs in Alabama, West Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee. But the company didn’t stop there. Today, they doubled down on their commitment by signing President Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers.” More than 200 companies have signed the pledge thus far, totaling more than 6.7 million new opportunities for the U.S. workforce. By adding its signature this morning, Toyota promised to create 200,000 enhanced career and training opportunities in Central Kentucky and across the United States. On the factory floor, Ms. Trump was joined by Gov. Matt Bevin (R-KY), getting a firsthand look at the company’s advanced manufacturing programs while meeting with employees and students. “We have 7.3 million vacant jobs, but we have 6.5 million unemployed Americans,” Ms. Trump said. “So, there are people who need those jobs, and these training programs provide them the pathway to those jobs.” See the pledge: 6.7 million opportunities and counting. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian Dogwood trees are seen in bloom on the North Lawn of the White House | March 26, 2019