Frank Greenagel, who has counseled addicts for years and is now also training police on the stigma of addiction, found little hope in President Donald Trump declaring the opioid epidemic a public health emergency.

“Better that it’s being talked about than not, but it’s just not nearly enough,” Greenagel said.

Trump’s declaration falls short of the national emergency that the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, led by Gov. Chris Christie, pushed for this summer.

A public health emergency does not add new funding to battle against addiction. The measures it allows for are a piecemeal shifting of funds and lifting of restrictions that will, however, help some addicts.

US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie (R-NJ) after he delivered remarks on combatting drug demand and the opioid crisis on October 26, 2017 in the East Room of the White House in washington,DC.US President Donald Trump on October 26, 2017 is to declare the opioid crisis a "nationwide public health emergency," stepping up the fight against an epidemic that kills more than 100 Americans every day, officials said. Trump is to make the announcement at an event at the White House later Thursday attended by former addicts and parents of victims, the senior administration officials said. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSONJIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images (Photo: JIM WATSON, AFP/Getty Images)

It gives federal and state governments more flexibility in hiring substance abuse specialists temporarily, for instance, and shifts federal grant programs for people with HIV/AIDS to get substance abuse treatment.

And Trump also announced the granting of waivers that will free up beds in residential treatment centers for poor patients. He also is directing agencies to use appropriate emergency measures to fight the crisis, although those measures were not detailed.

But aside from the lack of new funding and new regulations, Greenagel sees a disheartening continuation of the same old battle for advocates.

“We could have a victory in New Jersey over a policy battle and that same battle needs to be fought in Kentucky and Ohio and California and Minnesota. This a national issue that we have to fight in 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the territories and D.C. It becomes a very, very long haul,” Greenagel said. “I just do not see the willpower of the federal government despite the president’s statements today that they want to make this a national fight.”

Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control show that about 64,000 people in the United States died from all drug overdoses in 2016. Greenagel says he expects that death toll to top 75,000 this year and 100,000 not long later given what he described as the federal government’s disappointing response.

In Central Jersey, several leaders in the fight against opioid abuse welcomed the president’s announcement while also stressing the need for additional preventive measures to deal with the crisis.

“We are extremely pleased that President Trump has declared a public health emergency at the recommendation of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis in response to the opioid epidemic that is impacting families and communities throughout New Jersey and the nation,” said Angelo Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

“We are hopeful through this declaration that additional resources and focus will be placed on prevention, education, treatment and recovery efforts,” Valente said.

Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III said the president’s concern for and recognition of the heroin epidemic as a public health crisis is greatly appreciated.

“The president’s leadership and plans to confront this epidemic, head-on, are profoundly needed. Bringing national solutions and resources will help thwart this epidemic. He is bringing awareness to the crisis by declaring it a national health emergency. This helps all to better understand the magnitude of the problem and everyone’s vulnerabilities,” Kearns said.

“Of course we must continue to fight the scourge of addiction at a local level as well, by fortifying the local front,” Kearns added. “This front is best supported with collaboration between law enforcement, educators, faith-based leaders, health and medical officials, prevention and treatment experts, and families as we continue to battle the heroin epidemic here locally.”

Hunterdon County has seen 40 reported overdoses and 15 deaths in the first nine months of this year. Last year there were a total of 15 overdose deaths in the county.

Ezra Helfand, executive director of the Middlesex County-based Wellspring Center for Prevention, said his initial review of stories related to the president’s announcement, he was surprised to see that no funding was allocated specifically to bolster substance use prevention effort.

“These are programs implemented throughout the country and are in place and are ongoing. Prevention efforts that start as early as grammar school (second grade) are designed to promote developmental assets to deter the first use of alcohol and other drugs,” Helfand said.

He added the goal of these programs is to help young children build a strong foundation of life skills rooted in key social competencies. The social competencies that these programs address are planning and decision-making practice, interpersonal skills, cultural competence, peer pressure, and peaceful conflict resolution — assets identified as promoting positive attitudes and behaviors.

He added, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, if effective prevention programs were implemented nationwide, substance abuse initiation would decline for 1.5 million youth and be delayed for 2 years on average and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide.

Others shared Greenagel's reaction.

Daytop New Jersey President and CEO James Curtin said in a statement he is "bitterly disappointed that the solution was to play musical chairs with already stretched funds for general health initiatives."