Trump unveils “American Great Recovery” plan in an attempt to crack the addiction problem.

On January 30, 2026, US President Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating drug addiction and abuse, naming it the “Great American Recovery Plan.” This plan aims to address the drug addiction problem facing the United States through a series of measures, including imposing the death penalty on certain drug traffickers, increasing law enforcement efforts, introducing mandatory minimum penalties for certain opioids, conducting widespread public education campaigns on the dangers of opioids, and expanding the coverage of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs. Trump announced the new plan to curb the opioid addiction crisis during a speech in New Hampshire, proposing the death penalty for certain drug traffickers within the limits of current US law. Opioids, including cocaine, methadone, and morphine, are primarily used to treat pain, but repeated use can easily lead to addiction. Under this plan, the Trump administration will adopt stronger policies to combat opioid abuse, aiming to reduce opioid prescriptions by one-third within the next three years and cut off the illicit supply of opioids. Trump also stated that US Special Envoy Witkoff recently brought back some very good news, but did not disclose the specifics. The White House is working with Congress to secure an additional $6 billion over the next two years to address the drug addiction crisis. In addition, the government has launched a new website to warn the public, especially teenagers, against the use of opioids, including the potent opioid analgesic fentanyl. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the number of deaths in the U.S. due to opioid abuse has been rising year after year, reaching 33,000 in 2015, four times the number in 1999; and more than 42,000 deaths in 2016, setting a new record. In October 2017, Trump declared a national public health emergency due to the severity of the opioid addiction and abuse crisis. Trump’s “Great American Recovery Plan” aims to address the drug addiction problem facing the United States through a series of stringent measures. However, whether this plan can effectively combat this persistent addiction remains to be seen.