Overdose Prevention Week, 2025
President Trump's proclamation declares August 31 to September 6, 2025, as Overdose Prevention Week.
The proclamation emphasizes the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, particularly the role of fentanyl.
It highlights the administration's actions, including the HALT Fentanyl Act and border security measures, while calling on Americans to participate in awareness programs and activities to prevent drug overdoses.
Arguments For
Intended benefits: Raising awareness about the opioid crisis and encouraging preventative measures to reduce overdose deaths. The proclamation aims to focus national attention on the problem and foster community-level initiatives.
Evidence cited: The proclamation mentions the high number of overdose deaths (over 80,000 in the past year) to underscore the severity of the crisis.
Implementation methods: The proclamation calls for Americans to observe the week with various activities raising awareness and considering follow-up actions; it also references legislative actions already taken to combat the crisis.
Legal/historical basis: The President's authority to issue proclamations is derived from the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Arguments Against
Potential impacts: While raising awareness can be beneficial, the proclamation's impact might be limited without substantial and sustained resource allocation to support addiction treatment and prevention programs.
Implementation challenges: Translating awareness into concrete action at a community level requires significant effort and may be hampered by resource limitations or lack of coordinated effort.
Alternative approaches: Some might argue that a more effective approach would involve increased funding for addiction treatment, harm reduction initiatives, and border control measures beyond the symbolic designation of a prevention week.
Unintended effects: The proclamation's language might inadvertently reinforce negative stigmas surrounding drug addiction, hindering individuals from seeking help.
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
This is the formal introduction, stating that the following is an official Presidential Proclamation.
The safety, health, and well-being of our people is essential to building a resilient Nation. Tragically, one of the gravest threats to American lives is the drug overdose crisis, which has caused heartbreak and suffering on untold numbers of families. This Overdose Prevention Week, we remember those who lost their lives to overdose, we stand beside the families left to grieve, and we renew our solemn commitment to ending this epidemic once and for all.
The President begins by stating the importance of the safety and well-being of citizens and highlights the severe impact of the drug overdose crisis on individual families and the nation.
Under the previous administration, our country endured a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions on our southern border. Deadly drugs like fentanyl and other opioids flooded into our cities and towns, falling into the hands of our children, siblings, parents, friends, and neighbors, and leaving devastation in their wake. Over the past year, more than 80,000 of our fellow citizens have died from drug overdoses. Children have vanished from classrooms, parents from dinner tables, and entire neighborhoods have been shaken by unconscionable grief and sorrow.
The President discusses the increase in drug overdoses, particularly from fentanyl crossing the southern border, emphasizing significant losses and the impact it has had on families and communities.
To combat this vicious assault on the American people, in July, I proudly signed into law the HALT Fentanyl Act, which classifies fentanyl-related compounds as Schedule I drugs. I also designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations — and with the passage of the historic One Big Beautiful Bill, we are expanding the southern border wall and deporting violent drug traffickers who prey on our Nation’s most vulnerable. I will continue to do everything in my power to protect children and families, end the scourge of drug addiction, and keep lethal substances out of our communities and out of the hands of our citizens.
The President details legislative actions taken to address the crisis, including the HALT Fentanyl Act, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and expanding border security measures to restrict the flow of drugs.
During this week, my Administration calls on every American to protect themselves and their families from the perils of drug overdose. Preserving our American inheritance depends on freedom from danger, freedom from harm, and freedom to lead long, safe, and vigorous lives. My Administration will never stop fighting to achieve a future that protects its citizens, defends its communities, and ensures that the American people are happy, healthy, and free.
The administration is encouraging preventive safety measures, underlining the commitment to public health and safety to help citizens live long, safe, and healthy lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 31 through September 6, 2025, as Overdose Prevention Week. I call upon my fellow Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, religious services, and other activities that raise awareness about the prescription opioid and drug overdose epidemic and to consider concrete follow-up activities.
The President officially proclaims August 31 to September 6, 2025, as Overdose Prevention Week and calls for nationwide participation in raising awareness and prevention.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This is the formal closing of the proclamation, including the date and President's signature.
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