TAMPA, Fla. — Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke about the nation’s opioid crisis during a visit to Florida on Wednesday, praising the response of President Donald Trump, federal agents and prosecutors to the crisis while acknowledging that prescription drug abuse has hit the state hard.
During his 25-minute remarks in Tampa at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sessions highlighted several overdose cases in Central Florida and said federal investigators continue to crack down on “darknet” marketplaces, a computer network used primarily for illegal file sharing where people sometimes buy illegal drugs.
He added that the Drug Enforcement Agency is now asking medical practitioners whether they have received continuing medical education on prescribing or dispensing opioids when they apply for a license or renew.
Sessions was scheduled to visit Key West to meet with federal officials about anti-drug trafficking efforts in the Caribbean and elsewhere. On Thursday, he is expected to attend a drug summit with military leaders at Southern Command in Miami.
In Tampa, Sessions said that too many opioids are prescribed in the United States.
“People need to take some aspirin sometimes,” he said.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.