As you undoubtedly know, the United States is in the midst of a worsening health crisis due to the use and misuse of licit and illicit opioids, a crisis that will have a broadening impact on numerous businesses and organizations. Because the current opioid epidemic is considered to be the worst public health crisis in modern American history, President Donald Trump in early 2017 established by executive order the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Chaired by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the bipartisan Commission was tasked to study the scope and effectiveness of the federal response to the opioid crisis and to recommend improvements.

Following Governor Christie's appointment, I was offered a unique opportunity to take a leave of absence from my law firm, Gibbons P.C., in order to accept a six-month, full-time political appointment to serve in the leadership role of Advisor to the Executive Director of the President's Commission, supporting the governor and the Commission by overseeing the development of the Commission's work within the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

My goal in sharing some key takeaways from the Commission's findings is to provide insights to those industries that are affected by this crisis and the government's response–in particular, the health care, health insurance, pharmaceutical and technology fields–and which industries should work alongside the government to effectuate the necessary changes, in part by preparing for the consequential business and legal ramifications brought on by the Commission.