NACo submits recommendations on the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

Key Takeaways

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.

Key recommendation for the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

• Invest in the peer workforce: NACo urged federal investment in peer support through training, certification programs and reimbursement pathways for peer-delivered services. Peer specialists play a critical role in county crisis response teams, treatment navigation and long-term recovery efforts.
• Expand community-based recovery ecosystems: NACo urged expanded federal investment in community-based services such as crisis care, prevention programs, housing, employment supports and peer-run services. These investments are essential to building accessible, regional systems of care that meet rising behavioral health needs.
• Promote awareness and reduce stigma: NACo urged support for locally led communication strategies that increase awareness, engage underserved populations and reduce stigma around substance use. County officials often serve as trusted messengers and are well-positioned to promote prevention and recovery through tailored outreach.
• Remove barriers to services, housing and employment: NACo urged the federal government to remove structural barriers that limit access to care—such as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy and the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion—and to integrate housing and employment supports into recovery frameworks for those with SUDS or who are in recovery. These changes are necessary to foster long-term reintegration and community participation.
• Continuation of existing federal programs: NACo urged continued investment in critical programs like the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. These initiatives are foundational to local prevention and enforcement efforts, and proposed cuts in the President’s FY 2026 budget could undermine their effectiveness and coordination under ONDCP.

Read NACo’s Comments

Impact on counties

Counties are not only implementers of public health and safety strategies, but they are also key innovators and partners in national efforts to address substance use. As stewards of opioid settlement dollars and administrators of behavioral health and justice systems, counties are investing in sustainable, evidence-based solutions. But these efforts depend on strong federal support, including robust funding for ONDCP-aligned programs and active engagement in local implementation challenges.

NACo will continue to advocate for county priorities and collaborate with ONDCP to ensure the 2026 strategy and other federal drug policies and priorities reflect the realities and needs of communities across the country.