President Trump on Thursday launched the Great American Recovery Initiative, a program aimed at bolstering the federal government’s response to substance abuse.
The initiative is aimed at treating drug addiction and substance abuse in the same manner as other chronic health issues. It aims to better align federal resources, establish national goals and use data to influence the government’s response to addiction.
The initiative will also focus on increasing awareness about the dangers of drug addiction and work with federal agencies to integrate drug prevention programs, early intervention, treatment, recovery support and reentry into society.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kathryn Burgum, who is married to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, will chair the panel. Ms. Burgum struggled with alcoholism before becoming sober 22 years ago and is a vocal advocate for addiction recovery.
“We’re taking a bold action to help Americans struggling with all forms of addiction, so they can get the help and support that they need to free themselves from the horrible burden of dependency,” Mr. Trump said. “It will help mobilize the full resources and authority of the federal government to help stop this plague.”
Mr. Kennedy said the initiative will be different from other federal substance abuse programs because it will coordinate with different agencies, requiring them to work together rather than programs siloed in different government departments.
Federal funding for drug recovery comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Earlier this month, the Trump administration reversed course and dropped previously announced plans to cut $2 billion from the agency.
In 2024, more than 74% of adults who perceived they had had a problem with drugs or alcohol considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered, according to government data. The same data said that 40.7 million adults with a substance abuse disorder in 2024 did not receive treatment, and 95.6% did not recognize that they needed it.
The move marks a slight shift in Mr. Trump’s efforts to crack down on drug addiction and substance abuse. It is his first major initiative to address the demand for drugs in the U.S.
During his first year in office, Mr. Trump has largely focused on combating the supply side by destroying boats in the Caribbean allegedly carrying drugs into America, and ordering the military to invade Venezuela and capture President Nicolas Maduro, whom the Trump administration says was the head of a major cartel sending drugs to the U.S.
