Senate approves national ‘drug czar’

In the final hours of a lame-duck Congress, lawmakers on Wednesday confirmed the Trump administration’s nominees for “drug czar” (Source: “With Senate votes, Trump gets a permanent drug czar — and his first science adviser,” Stat News, Jan. 2, 2019).

The Senate confirmed James Carroll to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy, giving the White House a top drug policy adviser amid a national epidemic in which 70,000 Americans die each year from drug overdoses. Carroll has filled the role in an acting position since February. 

The Trump administration has identified the opioid crisis as a top priority, but had its first ONDCP nominee withdraw his nomination and has delegated much of its portfolio to Kellyanne Conway, one of the president’s top political advisers.