Re: "Why the United States needs a national drug policy," by Dr. Stephen Patrick.

As the acting director of National Drug Control Policy, I felt compelled to respond to the well-intentioned but inaccurate op-ed the Tennessean ran on July 11.

Dr. Stephen Patrick. assistant professor of pediatrics and health policy at Vanderbilt University, wrote a passionate defense of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the federal government's work to address drug use and substance use disorder.

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