Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Today, President Trump changes that.

With the Great American Recovery Initiative, we finally bring the full strength of the federal government together across healthcare, law enforcement, housing, labor,

faith communities, and the private sector to save lives, restore families, and rebuild communities that addiction has hollowed out.

Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from substance use disorder.

Many never receive treatment.

Even more don't believe that help is possible.

That is not because recovery doesn't work.

It's because our systems have failed to reach the people where they are early enough, long enough, and with dignity.

This initiative fixes that.

We will align federal programs instead of letting them operate in silos.

We will set clear, measurable goals and report honestly to the American people.

We will use evidence-based care, modern science, and continuous support just as we do for heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

We will focus on prevention before addiction takes hold.

We will intervene early.

We will expand access to treatment that leads to real, long-term recovery.

And we will support reentry because recovery does not end when treatment ends.

It succeeds when people return to their families, their jobs, and their communities with purpose and with hope.

As co-chair of this initiative alongside of Katherine Burgum, whose leadership and commitment strengthens this work, I pledge urgency, accountability, and honesty

Catherine and I share the experience of having been addicted and long-term recovery.

Almost everybody in this room and almost everybody in our country has been touched by addiction.