Key Takeaways
- NACo submitted recommendations to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to ensure the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy reflects the needs and realities of county governments.
- Counties are essential intergovernmental partners in addressing illicit substance use through prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety efforts at the local level.
On June 20, NACo submitted formal comments to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to help shape the development of its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy serves as the nation’s blueprint for reducing illicit drug use, and the ONDCP plays a central role in coordinating federal drug policy across government agencies. As counties remain on the frontlines of the opioid and broader substance use epidemic, ONDCP invited NACo to share the county government perspectives on federal priorities and polices that support prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety across the country.
Counties invest $107 billion annually in justice and public safety and $163 billion in community health systems, funding and administering services that are directly involved in responding to the substance use crisis. NACo’s comments emphasized the vital role counties play and the importance of federal partnership in delivering life-saving services and building long-term recovery systems.
