WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, who yesterday launched a wide-ranging investigation into the marketing and sales practices of some of the country’s largest opioids manufacturers, released the following statement after reports that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will lead a White House Commission to combat the opioid epidemic:
“Drug overdose deaths, the majority of which are from heroin and prescription opioids, are a national crisis. We need all hands on deck, including Administration officials, and I look forward to working with them on anything that will prevent the tragedies happening in communities across Missouri. We’ll need the help of Governor Christie, President Trump, and others at all levels of government, from any party affiliation, if we’re going to make progress and save lives.”
Yesterday, McCaskill launched an investigation of the manufacturers of the nation’s top five prescription opioid products by 2015 sales, requesting information including sales and marketing materials, internal addiction studies, details on compliance with government settlements and donations to third party advocacy groups.
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