Trump to bolster government response to drug addiction

President Trump is creating a new group Thursday aimed at bolstering the federal government’s response to drug addiction and substance abuse.

Mr. Trump will create a new panel known as the “White House Great American Recovery Initiative,” which will advise federal agencies on directing grants to support addiction recovery, according to a fact sheet obtained by The Washington Times.

The president will announce the initiative Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office.

The group will also increase 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.

“The framework for addiction treatment should parallel that of other chronic diseases — using evidence-based care, scientific advancement, continuous support, and community connection,” the fact sheet said.

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.

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 to the U.S.