Trump declares opioid crisis a 'national emergency'

President Donald Trump is officially declaring the opioid crisis a "national emergency."
Trump made the announcement before holding a security briefing Thursday at his golf course in Bedminster.
He tells reporters the drug crisis afflicting the nation is a "serious problem the likes of which we have never had" and says he's drawing up documents "to so attest."
A drug commission convened by Trump and headed by Gov. Chris Christie recently called for a national emergency declaration to help deal with the opioid crisis.
Christie has made fighting opioid addiction a large part of his last year in office and has passed several laws related to how opioids are prescribed to New Jersey patients.
An East Brunswick funeral director recently made headlines when his blog posts about opioid overdoses went viral.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price earlier this week seemed to suggest the president was leaning against the recommendation when he said the administration could deploy the necessary resources and attention without declaring a national emergency. But Price stressed that "all things" were "on the table for the president."
Christie released a statement Thursday afternoon thanking the president.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.