Joe Manchin: Opioid Crisis Needs 'All Hands on Board'

The government needs to go "full throttle" as it takes on the nationwide opioid epidemic, a lawmaker from the hardest-hit state said Thursday.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., told Fox News he looks forward to having a conversation with President Donald Trump about stopping the problem. West Virginia's overdose rate is the highest in the nation.

"It's a national emergency. This is a disaster that we're dealing with. It's epidemic. Call it whatever you want to," Manchin said. "It is hitting every part of my state of West Virginia. It is hitting every part of this great country of ours. We've got to attack this, full throttle if you will."

Trump was expected to declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency on Thursday, which would allow more resources to be thrown at the problem.

"The president naming this a national emergency will give us resources to go to the front line," Manchin said. "It starts with education. I'm talking pre-K. You have to start educating children.

"We've got a lot of problems that are surfacing now that have to be corrected. It is all hands on board."

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