C.J. Cregg Takes Over The White House Press Briefing

Allison Janney appeared as her former "West Wing" character to raise awareness about opioid addiction.
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Allison Janney reprised her role as "The West Wing" press secretary C.J. Cregg on Friday, taking over the White House's daily press briefing from her real-life counterpart, press secretary Josh Earnest. 

Janney, who played Cregg on all seven seasons of Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed drama, returned to her character's familiar post in the briefing room to raise awareness about opioid addiction.  

"This is a disease that can touch anybody, and all of us can help reduce drug abuse through evidence-based treatment, prevention and recovery," she said. "Research shows it works, and courageous Americans show it works every day."

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Allison Janney took over for White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest during Friday's press briefing to highlight a White House initiative to prevent prescription drug abuse and heroin use and help those who need treatment.
NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images

Deaths from drug overdoses hit an all-time high in 2014, with an average of 78 Americans dying each day from opioids. The White House has since taken steps to combat prescription drug and heroin dependency, proposing $1.1 billion in funding to expand access to treatment. 

Janney, who plays a woman in recovery for drug and alcohol abuse on the CBS comedy "Mom," has previously advocated for awareness of the epidemic. Earlier this year, she appeared alongside U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in a PSA about the dangers of heroin and opioid painkillers. 

Friday's briefing room appearance also included a few references for "West Wing" fans, including a nod to Janney's famous rendition of "The Jackal" in the show's first season.

At the end of Janney's remarks, CBS reporter Mark Knoller asked who President Jed Bartlet, the "West Wing"'s fictional commander-in-chief, would support in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

"I think you know the answer to that," Janney replied. 

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2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner
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US President Barack Obama (L) speaks with White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) President Christi Parsons at the WHCA Dinner in Washington, DC on April 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO/YURI GRIPAS (Photo credit should read YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YURI GRIPAS via Getty Images)
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White House Correspondents' Association President Christi Parsons waves at the WHCA Dinner in Washington, DC on April 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO/YURI GRIPAS (Photo credit should read YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YURI GRIPAS via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (2nd L) attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, DC on April 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO/YURI GRIPAS (Photo credit should read YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YURI GRIPAS via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attend the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, politicians and celebrities. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: US President Barack Obama smiles at the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, politicians and celebrities. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Saturday Night Live's comedian Cecily Strong speaks with First Lady Michelle Obama at the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, politicians and celebrities. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: US President Barack Obama smiles at the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, politicians and celebrities. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: American journalist and author Katie Couric and some friends attend the annual White House Correspondent's Association Gala at the Washington Hilton hotel April 25, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The dinner is an annual event attended by journalists, politicians and celebrities. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Chrissy Teigen attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Laverne Cox attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Jane Fonda attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Bailee Madison attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Troian Bellisario attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (CORRECTION: This slide originally identified Bellisario as Spencer Hastings. Hastings is the character Bellisario plays on television.) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Jason Isaacs and Michelle Trachtenberg attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Jennifer Coolidge attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Ashley Judd attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Ivanka Trump attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Eric Stonestreet attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Candice Crawford and NFL player Tony Romo attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Tea Leoni (L) and Madeleine Albright attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Gabourey Sidibe and Bailee Madison attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Tara Lipinski attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Model Hannah Davis attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Host Cecily Strong attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Chanel Iman attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Adriana Lima attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Martha Stewart attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Lucy Liu attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Aasif Mandvi attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: News correspondent Tamron Hall attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: (L-R) Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson attend the Yahoo News/ABC News White House Correspondents' dinner reception pre-party at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Yahoo) (credit:Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Host Cecily Strong attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Idina Menzel attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: John Molner (L) and Katie Couric attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Gina Rodriguez attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Naya Rivera attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Social media personality Nash Grier attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Anthony Anderson attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Michelle Monaghan attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: TV personality Maria Menounos attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Holly Burrell and actor Ty Burrell attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Aimee Mullins and Rupert Friend attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Gayle King and Kirby Bumpus attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Television journalists Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Michael Bloomberg and Diana Taylor attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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Figure skaters Johnny Weir arrives at White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) annual dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO/NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Fox News channel talent attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Actress Connie Nielsen attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright attends the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images) (credit:Teresa Kroeger via Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Larry Wilmore and a guest attend the 101st Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Loccisano via Getty Images)