New White House drug abuse strategy floats wastewater testing, AI, more treatment
The Trump administration's draft drug control strategy proposes nationwide wastewater testing, artificial intelligence for cargo screening, and expanded treatment access to address ongoing drug abuse. The plan emphasizes faith-based recovery support, real-time data monitoring, and increased availability of overdose-reversal tools like naloxone. It highlights concerns about rising illicit drug use, aggressive marketing of high-potency substances, and cultural normalization of drug use despite declining overdose deaths.
- ▪The draft strategy proposes a national wastewater-based monitoring system to track real-time drug use trends.
- ▪Artificial intelligence would be used to screen cargo at ports and analyze health records to identify overdose risks.
- ▪The plan promotes faith-based treatment approaches and encourages faith leaders to combat drug use norms.
- ▪Over 68,000 overdose deaths were reported in the 12 months ending in November 2025, down from peak levels but still high.
- ▪The administration supports rescheduling certain marijuana products and expanding research on psychedelics for mental health.
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Exclusive Politics New White House drug abuse strategy floats wastewater testing, AI, more treatment and faith-based options By Jennifer Jacobs Jennifer Jacobs Senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News. Read Full Bio Jennifer Jacobs Updated on: April 30, 2026 / 9:30 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Trump administration is proposing wastewater testing on a national level to try to ferret out data on illegal drug use in real time, according to a draft of a new drug control strategy obtained by CBS News.The administration also aims to apply artificial intelligence technologies to screen cargo for illicit drugs at ports of entry, examine electronic health records to "identify patients at high risk of overdose" and create search…
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