President Barack Obama’s nominee to serve as U.S. drug “czar” won unanimous approval in the Senate Monday as lawmakers vowed to curb an epidemic that results in more than 40,000 deaths a year from overdoses of prescription painkillers, heroin and other substances.
Senators voted 92-0 to approve Michael Botticelli, who has served as acting drug czar since March. A former head of the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Botticelli has emphasized prevention and treatment and has been in recovery for more than 25 years.
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District voters approved legalization last November by a 2-to-1 margin. A spending bill passed by Congress in December includes language intended to block legalization.
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