ONDCP releases 2026 National Drug Control Strategy

Key Takeaways

On May 4, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, which serves as the federal government’s blueprint for coordinating a whole-of-government response to the nation’s drug crisis.. The strategy reflects many of the priorities NACo formally recommended to ONDCP during its development.

Read Strategy

NACo’s role in shaping the strategy

Counties are essential intergovernmental partners in addressing substance use through local prevention programs, behavioral health systems, emergency response, treatment and recovery services, justice and public safety operations and opioid settlement investments. 

Last year, NACo submitted formal comments to ONDCP to elevate county priorities in the 2026 strategy, recognizing counties as both implementers of federal drug policy and builders of coordinated systems of care. NACo's recommendations called for investing in the peer workforce, expanding community-based recovery ecosystems, promoting locally led awareness and stigma-reduction strategies, removing barriers to services and employment for individuals in recovery, and preserving critical federal programs like Drug-Free Communities and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

Read NACo’s Comments 

County priorities in the strategy

The 2026 strategy is organized around three core areas of focus: understanding current and emerging drug threats, eliminating the supply of illicit drugs, and employing a comprehensive public health approach to prevention, intervention and recovery. Each of these focus areas embed NACo priorities and provide an opportunity for counties to lead in translating the strategy into local action. 

• Understanding current and emerging threats: The strategy prioritizes timely data, early warning systems and coordination across public health and public safety partners to identify shifting threats before they overwhelm local systems. Counties, sitting at the intersection of emergency services, law enforcement and behavioral health, are uniquely positioned to act on this intelligence and direct resources where they are needed most.

• Eliminating the supply of illicit drugs: The strategy takes direct aim at the global and domestic supply chains fueling drug trafficking. This includes robust interdiction efforts and continued investment in programs like the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program — a key county priority. Counties invest $107 billion annually in justice and public safety, and local law enforcement, jails and courts are on the front lines of supply reduction every day.

• Taking a comprehensive public health approach to prevention, treatment and recovery: The strategy recognizes that enforcement alone cannot solve the drug crisis. It emphasizes embedding prevention into health, education and public safety systems, expanding naloxone access, improving overdose response and strengthening pathways to recovery. These priorities directly mirror NACo's recommendations to invest in the peer support workforce, expand community-based recovery ecosystems and remove barriers to housing and employment for people in recovery. Counties administer $163 billion annually in community health systems that are the backbone of any effective public health response.

Next steps

ONDCP’s implementation process includes near-term, medium-term and long-term activities, as well as continued coordination with state, local and Tribal officials. Counties will be critical partners in translating the strategy’s national priorities into local action. NACo will continue working with ONDCP, Congress and federal partners to ensure county governments are engaged in implementation and that federal drug policy supports locally driven prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety strategies.