The Trump administration’s approach to substance use disorder treatment so far has focused primarily on law enforcement actions to stop the supply of illegal drugs.
The administration has proposed sweeping cuts to federal substance use and mental health programs, a move that has drawn pushback from addiction treatment experts.
Here are five things to know about the administration’s approach to substance use disorder treatment so far:
- In April, the White House published a list of six drug policy priorities: reducing the number of overdose fatalities; securing the global supply chain against drug trafficking; stopping the flow of drugs across U.S. borders; preventing drug use; providing treatment that leads to long-term recovery; and supporting drug control strategies through innovative research.
- The administration has emphasized law enforcement, border patrols and tariffs in its strategy to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and reduce overdose deaths, The New York Times reported. In January, Mr. Trump signed an executive order designating cartels as terrorist organizations.
- President Trump’s proposed federal budget would eliminate 23 substance use and prevention treatment programs housed under HHS. The budget would cut substance use treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women, and young people. It would also cut naloxone training programs.
- In May, more than 300 behavioral medicine providers and experts sent a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to preserve funding for federal substance use treatment programs.
- The administration has also proposed eliminating the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Treatment Administration. Under the proposed budget, the agency would become part of the new Administration for a Healthy America. Mental health and substance use programs would make up $5.7 billion of HHS’ $19.8 billion budget.
On July 3, the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping budget package that includes more than $800 million in cuts to Medicaid. The move could have major effects on substance use disorder treatment, as Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health and substance use services, according to Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.
The bill now heads to the president’s desk.
