President Donald Trump signed an executive order Jan. 29 establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a coordinated federal effort to address addiction in the U.S.
The initiative aims to streamline government programs, integrate evidence-based care and improve access to treatment for the 48.4 million Americans living with substance use disorder.
Here are five things to know about the initiative’s goals:
- Establish a federal task force co-led by HHS
The initiative will be co-chaired by the HHS secretary and the senior adviser for addiction recovery. It aims to align government programs, promote evidence-based treatment and foster community-based recovery support, according to the order. An executive director will oversee daily operations and report to the assistant to the president for domestic policy.
- Coordinate addiction response across federal agencies
At least 14 high-level officials — including the attorney general and secretaries of labor, education and veterans affairs — will participate to align programs and break down interagency silos.
- Set national goals and track progress
The task force will recommend objectives for prevention, treatment and recovery, and provide data-driven updates to the public on outcomes.
- Drive awareness and expand treatment access
The initiative will promote public understanding of addiction as a chronic disease and work to connect individuals with the care they need.
- Engage local and private sector partners
Federal leaders will consult with state and tribal governments, faith-based organizations, nonprofits and employers to support recovery at the community level.
Stephen Taylor, MD, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, said in a statement the organization is “pleased to see this definition embraced at the federal level.” The organization also called for sustainable funding solutions, including expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage “to encompass the full continuum of addiction care.”
Earlier in January, the White House reversed grant terminations that mental health and substance use disorder providers received Jan. 13 — a move that sources told NPR affected more than 2,000 SAMHSA grants totaling $2 billion — after pushback from lawmakers and healthcare leaders.
The administration has also prioritized law enforcement actions to reduce the supply of illegal drugs entering the country.
