Establishing the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis

This executive order creates a presidential commission to study and recommend improvements to the federal response to drug addiction and the opioid crisis. The commission is tasked with reviewing existing funding, treatment availability, prevention practices, and program effectiveness before submitting interim and final reports to the President.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 16283

Impact dates

Oct 1, 2017
Final findings and recommendations report
Jun 27, 2017
Interim recommendations on federal response to drug addiction and opioid crisis
Apr 28, 2017
Commission termination (30 days after final report)

Key directives

Establish President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis
ONDCP to provide administrative support to Commission
Commission to submit interim recommendations within 90 days
Commission to submit final findings and recommendations by October 1, 2017
Commission terminates 30 days after final report unless extended by President

Who is ordered

ONDCP Director · ONDCP

Timeline

Immediate

Commission established
ONDCP designated to provide administrative support

Near term (90d)

Interim recommendations due to President

Long term

Final report due October 1, 2017
Commission terminates 30 days after final report

Risks & tensions

Commission lacks independent funding authority; dependent on ONDCP budget and presidential determination
No enforcement mechanism for recommendations; purely advisory
Tight timeline (90 days interim, ~6 months final) may limit depth of analysis
Membership balance requirement (Sec. 3(b)) is vague on implementation
Termination 30 days after final report provides no ongoing institutional follow-through