Donald Trump declares US opioid crisis a nationwide emergency

President Donald Trump on Thursday declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency, a step that will not bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills nearly 100 Americans a day but will expand access to medical services in rural areas, among other changes.

"This epidemic is a national health emergency," Mr Trump said in a speech at the White House, where he bemoaned a crisis he said had spared no segment of American society.