On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, we’re having an important one-on-one conversation with a key figure from President Trump’s administration—someone deeply involved in shaping how our country responds to the addiction and mental health crisis.
Right now, more than 48 million Americans are living with substance use disorder. Yet, the administration is proposing a $56 million cut to a federal grant that helps communities and first responders access naloxone—the life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
And that’s just one piece of the puzzle. The so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” also includes Medicaid cuts that could dramatically affect addiction prevention and treatment across the country. Add to that a major overhaul of several federal programs that support substance use treatment, and there’s a lot at stake.
On this episode, we sit down with Art Kleinschmidt, head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. And we’re asking the tough questions.
Listen to Dr. Kleinschmidt’s previous episode of Grieving Out Loud here.
MEET THE GUEST
Arthur Kleinschmidt
Dr. Art Kleinschmidt, newly appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at SAMHSA, brings decades of clinical, policy, and leadership experience to oversee national mental health and substance use efforts through the newly created Administration for a Healthy America. A licensed addiction counselor and longtime advocate in recovery himself, Dr. Kleinschmidt has served in key federal roles, including Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and continues to be nationally recognized for his expertise at the intersection of behavioral health and public policy.
