Obama signs opioid addiction bill into law -White House

WASHINGTON U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill passed by Congress aimed at combating a nationwide epidemic of heroin and other opioid addictions, the White House said.

The measure aims to help communities develop treatment and overdose programs at a time when fewer than half the estimated 2.2 million Americans who need help for opioid abuse are receiving it, according to U.S. health officials.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech)