A prominent voice in addiction recovery has taken his message to the heart of federal power. Tom Wolf leads West Coast initiatives for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions. In spring 2026, he attended two high-level White House events. Both focused on addiction treatment and recovery as the answer to America’s drug crisis. Together, they mark a clear shift in federal policy direction.

As a result, the Trump administration is stepping back from harm reduction strategies. Critics argue those approaches have produced little lasting change. Instead, recovery-first advocacy is now driving the conversation at the highest levels of government.

Recovery-First Advocacy at a Federal Level

In April, Wolf attended a two-day White House summit focused on recovery-first solutions to addiction and homelessness. The event was convened by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), SAMHSA, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It brought together senior officials, physicians, and social workers. Notably, people with lived experience of homelessness and addiction also took part.

Speaking from the White House press briefing room, Wolf was direct. “Accountability is a cornerstone of recovery,” he said. “Radical harm reduction is on the way out. We are ushering in a new era of recovery as a solution to our drug and homeless crisis.”

The summit supported President Trump’s Executive Order on Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets. Drug Czar Sara Carter set out a clear goal: to build a national treatment model based on best practices and measurable outcomes.

“There is inherent value and dignity to every human life,” Carter said. “It is a priority of this administration to find new ways to help those in need achieve sobriety.”

Senior Officials Unite Around Treatment and Recovery

The April summit drew senior federal health and housing officials. These included HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., VA Secretary Doug Collins, HUD Assistant Secretary Ronnie Kurtz, and Co-Chair of the Great American Recovery Initiative Kathryn Burgum.

Kennedy was clear about the administration’s stance. “We will not tolerate a system that leaves Americans in addiction and on the streets,” he said. “We are bringing addiction treatment and recovery directly to those in need.”

Furthermore, HUD Secretary Scott Turner called for an end to Housing First policies. He argued they had misused taxpayer resources without results. In their place, HUD is now promoting recovery-first advocacy and self-sufficiency as the foundation for addressing homelessness.

Meanwhile, SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll pointed to evidence supporting addiction treatment and recovery through integrated care. “Community-based treatment models outperform fragmented care,” he said. Indeed, they give homeless individuals a far greater chance at lasting recovery.

National Drug Control Strategy Reflects a Recovery-First Vision

In May, Wolf attended the release of the White House’s National Drug Control Strategy. This blueprint lays out the administration’s full approach to the drug crisis. Importantly, addiction treatment and recovery run through its core. The introduction states the government will “ensure that compassionate, effective treatment and recovery support are available to every American who is courageously fighting to reclaim their life from addiction.”

The numbers make the urgency plain. According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 48.7 million Americans aged 12 and older met the criteria for a substance use disorder in 2023. That is roughly one in six people. For that reason, delivering effective addiction treatment and recovery support at scale is not optional. Consequently, getting the policy direction right carries enormous stakes.

Moreover, Wolf’s presence at both events shows that recovery advocates now hold real influence in federal circles. In short, the national conversation around addiction has entered a new chapter.

A New Era for Addiction Policy

The Great American Recovery Initiative sits at the centre of this realignment. Co-chaired by Secretary Kennedy and Senior Advisor Kathryn Burgum, it brings recovery-first advocacy into formal government structure. In addition, it coordinates action across healthcare providers, faith communities, and the private sector.

For Wolf and others in the recovery-first movement, these White House engagements represent more than access. They show that addiction treatment and recovery are shaping national strategy in concrete ways. Ultimately, treatment, accountability, and long-term sobriety are now at the true centre of America’s response to addiction.

Source: dbrecoveryresources