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PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION ON COMBATING DRUG
ADDICTION AND THE OPIOID CRISIS

Commission Charter

Committee’s Official Designation: President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction
and the Opioid Crisis (Commission).

Authority: The Commission is being established in accordance with Executive Order No.
13784 of March 29, 2017, and the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

Objectives and Scope of Activities: The Commission is established in the interest of
obtaining advice and recommendations for the President regarding the opioid crisis. The
Commission will function solely as an advisory body and will make recommendations
regarding policies and practices for combating drug addiction with particular focus on the
current opioid crisis in the United States. The heads of executive departments and agencies
shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide the Commission with information concerning
drug addiction and the opioid crisis when requested. To achieve this goal, the Commission
shall:

a. identify and describe the existing Federal funding used to combat drug addiction and
the opioid crisis;

b. assess the availability and accessibility of drug addiction treatment services and
overdose reversal throughout the country and identify areas that are underserved;

c. identify and report on best practices for addiction prevention, including healthcare
provider education and evaluation of prescription practices, collaboration between
State and Federal officials, and the use and effectiveness of State prescription drug
monitoring programs;

d. review the literature evaluating the effectiveness of educational messages for youth
and adults with respect to prescription and illicit opioids;

e. identify and evaluate existing Federal programs to prevent and treat drug addiction
for their scope and effectiveness, and make recommendations for improving these
programs; and

f. make recommendations to the President for improving the Federal response to drug
addiction and the opioid crisis.

Description of Duties: The duties of the Commission are solely advisory.

Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The Commission shall provide its
formal interim and final findings and recommendations to the President. The Commission
shall report to the President, directly at meetings with the President and also through the
Director of National Drug Control Policy.


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Agency Responsible for Providing Necessary Support: The Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP) within the Executive Office of the President will provide necessary
administrative support for the Commission with the approval of the Director of ONDCP and
will maintain staff and quarters to meet the needs of the Commission. The Director of
ONDCP will be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of §6(b) of FACA are
fulfilled.

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: To be determined.

Designated Federal Officer: The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) will be a full-time
officer or employee of the Federal Government appointed by the Director of ONDCP or the
President. The DFO will approve or call all of the Commission’s meetings, prepare all
meeting agendas, attend all meetings, and adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines
adjournment to be in the public interest. Should the Commission Chair designate any
subcommittees, the DFO will similarly approve or call any/all subcommittee meetings,
prepare all subcommittee meeting agendas, attend all such meetings, and adjourn any
subcommittee meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The Commission shall meet as frequently
as needed and called and approved by the DFO. As required by FACA, the Commission will
hold open meetings unless it is determined by the Executive Director that a meeting or a
portion of a meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with subsection (c) of section
552b of Title 5, United States Code. Interested persons may attend meetings, appear before
the Commission, and file statements with the Commission.

Duration and Termination: Within 90 days of the date of the Executive Order establishing
this Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President a report of the Commission’s
interim findings and recommendations regarding how the Federal government can address
drug addiction and the opioid crisis. The Commission shall submit to the President a report
of final findings and recommendations on or before October 1, 2017, unless the Commission
Chair provides written notice to the President that an extension of time is necessary. The
Commission shall terminate thirty (30) days after it presents its final report to the President,
unless the Commission’s term is extended by the President prior to that date.

Membership: The Commission shall be composed of members appointed by the President.
As required by FACA, the membership of the Commission will be fairly balanced in terms of
the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the Commission. The
advice and recommendations of the Commission will be the result of the Commission’s
independent judgment. The President shall designate a Chair of the Commission
(Commission Chair or Chair) from among the Commission’s members. The Director of
ONDC?P will designate an Executive Director of the Commission who is a full-time
employee from ONDCP who will supervise staff and coordinate administrative support for


the Commission. ‘The Executive Director will work at the direction of the Chair on all
Commission related matters and will attend each meeting of the Commission. Members
serve at the pleasure of the President. .

12. Subcommittees: Subcommittees composed of members designated by the Chair may be
established by the Chair in consultation with the Executive Director and the DFO to perform
specific functions within the Commission’s jurisdiction. The Chair will notify the Executive
Director and the DFO upon the establishment of each subcommittee and will provide the
Executive Director and the DFO with information on its name, membership, function, and
estimated frequency of meetings. Subcommittees must not incur costs or expenses without
prior consultation with the Executive Director and express written authorization of the Chair.
Subcommittees must not provide any information to any entity without written authorization
of the Chair. Subcommittees are required to report any findings, conclusions, or
recommendations to the Commission and must not provide any information directly to the
President.

13. Recordkeeping: The records of the Commission and its subcommittees will be handled in
accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 and approved agency records disposition
schedules. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the
Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

14. Filing Date: The filing date of this charter is April 24, 2017.

Approved on this 24th day of April, 2017

Richard J Aba, Acting Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy