Trump Announces Great American Recovery Initiative to Combat Addiction
Image source: whitehouse.gov
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29th in an effort to coordinate a national response to addiction across America and prevent fatal overdoses.
The Great American Recovery Initiative is aimed at streamlining government programs and improving access to those struggling with addiction.
“Addiction begins in isolation and ends in reconnection,” said Secretary Kennedy, who is co-chair of President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative. “Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we are bringing Americans suffering from addiction out of the shadows and back into community.”
The following officials will lead the Initiative,
- Health and Human Services Secretary (Co-Chair, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.)
- Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery (Co-Chair, Kathryn Burgum)
- Attorney General
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of Education
- Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
- Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary
- Director of National Drug Control Policy
- Commissioner of Food and Drugs
- Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Peace Missions
- Director of the National Institutes of Health
Interestingly, there is only one medical doctor on the board, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and no registered nurses.
“The framework for addiction treatment should parallel that of other chronic diseases—utilizing evidence-based care, scientific advancement, continuous support, and community connection,” the order reads.
There are five main sections of the Initiative. These include:
- Establish a federal task force
- Coordinate addiction response across federal agencies
- Set national goals and track progress
- Drive awareness and expand treatment access
- Engage local and private sector partners
On February 2nd, HHS Secretary Kennedy announced a plan to carry out the Great American Recovery Initiative with a $100 million investment to combat homelessness issues, fight opioid addiction, and improve public safety.
Addiction, also commonly referred to as substance abuse disorder, affects millions of families and individuals around the country. The White House released a Fact Sheet on the Initiative to highlight the executive order and share information and statistics on addiction.
- 48.4 million Americans, or 16.8% of the population, suffer from addiction.
- Among the 40.7 million adults with a substance use disorder in 2024 who did not receive treatment, 95.6% (or 38.1 million people) did not perceive they needed it.
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