Trump Pick for the Nation’s ‘Drug Czar,’ Brashly Political and Unqualified
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump Administration has selected Fox News TV personality Sara Carter to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which coordinates drug policy across 19 federal agencies. Carter’s reporting has weaponized drug trafficking issues against immigrant communities. Carter has no training in public health, and further lacks any background or accomplishments in medicine, epidemiology, law, social work or other germane disciplines.
Dr. Michael Abrams, a senior health researcher with Public Citizen issued the following statement:
“President Trump’s cynicism and incompetence regarding health policies continue with his nomination of a Fox News host as his director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Selecting Carter perpetuates Trump’s racist propaganda and his inhumane mass deportation agenda.
“During the Biden Administration, opioid overdose deaths were finally dropping from peak levels brought on by excessive medical use and then sustained by fentanyl substitution when such prescription use was curtailed. That progress was difficult to achieve and likely the result of many policies especially including those that increased treatment and prevention efforts, addressed stigma and social determinants of health, and expanded access to naloxone among other life-saving medications.
“An ONDCP director must have the knowledge, skills and open-mindedness to develop and implement policies that address both supply and demand issues related to substance misuse.Trump’s nomination of this unqualified TV news personality to direct this multi-agency effort will likely weaken our on-going battle against the scourge of addiction.“