washington u.s. president donald trump declare opioid crisis public health emergency thursday stop short national emergency declaration promise months ago would free federal money respond grow problem particularly rural areas trump declaration redirect federal resources loosen regulations combat opioid abuse senior administration officials say result money combat crisis critics include democratic lawmakers say declaration meaningless without additional fund republican lawmakers call president declaration important step combat crisis epidemic national health emergency trump republican say white house americans allow continue trump also call epidemic national shame human tragedy introduce wife melania say make fight epidemic one top priorities first lady happen us say president also make personal reference addiction family cite decease brother fred alcoholic whose advice imbibe make impression trump drink alcohol announcement disappoint advocate experts addiction fight say inadequate fight scourge play role 33,000 deaths 2015 accord u.s. center disease control prevention death rate keep rise estimate show opioids primarily prescription painkillers heroin fentanyl fuel drug overdose 100 americans die daily relate overdose accord cdc white house commission drug crisis urge trump declare national emergency wednesday president tell fox business network would officials tell reporters conference call federal emergency management agency fund would release national emergency already exhaust recent storm strike puerto rico texas florida administration would work congress help provide additional fund address drug abuse add say determine public health emergency declaration appropriate expansive review thursday declaration treatment would make accessible abusers prescription painkillers heroin fentanyl ensure few delay staff department health human service help state grapple crisis trump say would discuss stop flow fentanyl drug 50 100 time powerful morphine chinese president xi jinping visit asia next month remark trump say u.s. postal service department homeland security strengthen inspection package come country hold back flood cheap deadly fentanyl synthetic opioid manufacture china beijing foreign ministry spokesman geng shuang say china always pay great deal attention international cooperation narcotics list 23 components fentanyl control substances despite fentanyl abuse problem trump add would consider bring lawsuits bad actors epidemic several state sue opioid manufacturers deceptive market congress investigate business practice manufacturers president also say government focus teach young people take drug nothing desirable drug bad say thursday declaration allow department labor issue grant help dislocate workers affect crisis hiv/aids health fund would also prioritize need substance abuse treatment officials say candidate trump promise address crisis include build wall u.s.-mexico border stop flow illicit drug touch speech additional action move would announce come weeks various agencies officials say trump declare opioids u.s. public health emergency