CDC director on opioid epidemic, needing funding for gun violence research
CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield considers the opioid epidemic the public health crisis of our time. Preliminary CDC data shows the number of deadly drug overdoses nationwide has plateaued for six straight months. Still, more than 72,000 Americans died last year from drug overdoses. A little over 48,000 of those deaths were from opioids. “CBS This Morning” co-host John Dickerson spoke to Redfield about why the crisis hits close to home for him. He also explains how the CDC is ready to expand research into the causes of gun violence, but is waiting on Congress to provide the money to do so.