Addressing Addiction through the Great American Recovery Initiative

This Executive Order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 29, 2026, establishes the White House Great American Recovery Initiative. The order formalizes a comprehensive federal strategy to treat addiction as a chronic medical disease and to coordinate recovery efforts across all levels of government and society.

The order cites sobering data to justify the intervention:

• • Widespread Impact: 48.4 million Americans (16.8% of the population) suffer from addiction.

  • The Treatment Gap: Of the 40.7 million adults with untreated substance use disorders in 2024, 95.6% did not perceive a need for treatment, highlighting a massive failure in awareness and outreach.

  • Economic Toll: Addiction costs the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars annually through declining workforce participation, homelessness, and lost productivity.

The order creates a new centralized body to lead the national response:

• • Leadership: Co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery. An Executive Director will manage day-to-day operations.

  • Membership: Includes the Attorney General and the Secretaries of Labor, Education, HUD, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the directors of the FDA, NIH, and CDC.

The Initiative is charged with several core tasks to transform how the U.S. handles addiction:

• • Standardizing Care: Shifting the national framework to treat addiction similarly to other chronic diseases, utilizing evidence-based science and continuous support.

  • Dismantling Silos: Advising agencies on how to integrate prevention, treatment, and re-entry into the healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and workforce systems.

  • Data-Driven Accountability: Setting clear objectives and providing the public with regular, data-driven updates on progress.

  • Cultural Shift: Promoting a national culture that "celebrates recovery" to reduce stigma and encourage those in need to seek help.

  • External Collaboration: Consulting with States, tribal nations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector to align strategies and grant funding.

The Trump Administration frames this initiative as a "Great American Recovery" intended to save lives and restore families. By moving away from fragmented, "siloed" programs and toward a coordinated medical and social model, the order seeks to apply a "whole-of-government" approach to the addiction epidemic.

The Scale of the CrisisThe Great American Recovery InitiativeKey Mandates and ObjectivesConclusion