Tom Wolf, who leads West Coast initiatives for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, has become a leader in the recovery-first movement. He recently participated in two events at the White House, where he stressed the importance of treatment and recovery for people with substance use disorder.
In April, Wolf was invited to attend a White House summit focused on treating addiction among people experiencing homelessness. In a video from the podium of the White House press briefing room, Wolf said, “I am here to tell you from the White House that accountability is a cornerstone of recovery. Radical harm reduction is on the way out, and we are ushering in a new era of recovery as a solution to our drug and homeless crisis.”
The summit brought together senior officials from across the federal government, including HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., VA Secretary Doug Collins, Assistant Secretary of Health Admiral Brian Christine, HUD Assistant Secretary Ronnie Kurtz, SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Carroll, Co-Chair of the Great American Recovery Initiative Kathryn Burgum, and ONDCP Director Sara Carter.
In May, Wolf attended the release of the White House’s National Drug Control Strategy, which outlined the federal government’s approach to addressing the drug crisis. Wolf’s message of recovery was central to the National Drug Control Strategy. For example, its introduction stated that “we will ensure that compassionate, effective treatment and recovery support are available to every American who is courageously fighting to reclaim their life from addiction.”