Macklemore Joins President Obama In Weekly Address On Opioids

Macklemore became the first non-administration official to appear on the president’s weekly address — when the rapper joined President Barack Obama in his sit down to discuss the nation’s opioid addiction issue on Saturday.

Macklemore and President Obama Speak On Opioid Problem

Macklemore’s visit to the White House to talk about opioid addiction with President Obama will be included in a one-hour documentary about opioid abuse the rapper is developing with MTV that will air later this summer.

“I’m here with President Obama because I take this personally,” Macklemore admitted in the address. “I have abused prescription drugs and battled addiction. If I hadn’t gotten the help I needed when I needed it, I might not be here today. And I want to help others facing the same challenges I did.”

Obama explained that overdoses now take more lives than traffic accidents every year, with overdose deaths increasing over the past decade, due to legal drugs prescribed by doctors.

“So addiction doesn’t always start in some dark alley — it often starts in a medicine cabinet,” Obama revealed.

The documentary will also include scenes of Macklemore meeting with young adults who’ve been affected by addiction and telling their stories.

“When you’re going through it, it’s hard to imagine there could be anything worse than addiction,” Macklemore said. “Shame and the stigma associated with the disease keeps too many people from seeking the help they need.”

Macklemore encouraged those who need help to find treatment in their area by calling 1-800-662-HELP.

“We have to tell people who need help that it’s ok to ask for it. We’ve got to make sure they know where to get it,” Macklemore added.

“We all have a role to play. Even if we haven’t fought this battle in our own lives, there’s a good chance we know someone who has, or who is,” Obama declared.