(January 30, 2026) The White House has issued an Executive Order establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a federal effort intended to coordinate and strengthen the national response to addiction and substance use disorder. The order cites an estimated 48.4 million Americans affected by addiction and calls for improved alignment across federal programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery.
The Executive Order creates a whole-of-government framework co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, with participation from multiple federal departments and agencies. Its stated purpose is to improve coordination among existing federal efforts and to integrate prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports across healthcare, social services, education, housing, workforce development, and community-based systems.
According to the Executive Order, the Great American Recovery Initiative is intended to:
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Coordinate federal addiction-related programs to align objectives, data collection, and outcome measurement.
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Expand public awareness of and access to treatment and recovery services, including efforts to reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder.
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Encourage the use of evidence-based practices that treat addiction as a chronic condition requiring long-term care.
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Inform federal grantmaking to support prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.
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Support collaboration with state and local governments, community organizations, faith-based groups, and private-sector partners.
In response to the Executive Order, Tom Vicini, President and CEO of Operation UNITE, referenced the administration’s emphasis on prevention and long-term outcomes:
“In announcing the Great American Recovery Initiative, President Trump correctly emphasizes the need ‘to focus on prevention, treatment, and long-term resilience’ as a strategy to help reduce the number of Americans suffering from the disease of addiction.”
Vicini also emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying causes of substance use disorder:
“Operation UNITE believes that reducing overdoses and preventing drugs from reaching deep into our communities are important, but these measures are merely reactionary to the core problem. Success, long-term, begins by preventing substance use initiation through consistent strategies that help youth and adults make informed, healthy choices and by offering support to those faced with adverse situations.”
The Executive Order outlines an approach focused on coordination, data-informed decision-making, and prevention, with the stated goal of improving federal effectiveness in addressing substance use disorder and supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction.
To read the full Executive Order, CLICK HERE.