08 February 2006
United States Releases Plan To Combat Illegal Drug Use in America
National Drug Control Strategy urges balance between reducing demand and supply
The 2006 White House National Drug Control Strategy calls for a balance between reducing the demand and supply of illegal drugs in the United States -- and also outlines proven programs to combat substance abuse, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The 2006 National Drug Control Strategy was released February 8. Highlights of the strategy include support for innovative drug prevention campaigns, more support for random student drug testing and support for screening, brief intervention, referral and treatment.
Other initiatives in the plan include support for drug courts, targeting methamphetamines, support for transit-zone interdiction and securing the U.S. Southwest border.
The strategy document (PDF, 41 pages) is available on the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site.
Following is the text of the ONDCP press release:
(begin text)
WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2006
DRUG CZAR RELEASES NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ILLEGAL DRUG USE IN AMERICA
New Strategy Balances Supply and Drug Reduction Strategies; Builds on Recent Declines in Youth Drug Use
Washington, D.C. -- John P. Walters, Director, today released President Bush's 2006 National Drug Control Strategy during a visit to a youth drug treatment center in Denver, Colorado. President Bush's new Strategy calls for a balance between reducing the demand and supply for illegal drugs in America, and outlines new programs which have been proven to be effective ways of combating substance abuse.
"In this year's State of the Union address, the President highlighted what he called a 'revolution of conscience' in which young people find that personal responsibility and a life of fulfillment go hand in hand. Falling crime rates, teen pregnancy rates, and reduced drug use are evidence of this change," said Director Walters. "The President's 2006 National Drug Control Strategy is an ambitious and balanced plan that supports programs that will continue to reduce drug use and work toward the goal set forth in his presidency."
Colorado Governor Bill Owens said, "It is not by accident that youth drug use has fallen by nearly 20 percent over the past five years. Without effective programs to deter drug dealers and discourage drug users, we would be hopeless in our battle against drug abuse. That is why the President's 2006 National Drug Control Strategy is so important." He continued, "In Colorado, we have taken many of the same measures that are included in the 2006 National Strategy. Since taking action in 2002 to crack down on methamphetamine, we have seen a decrease in meth labs in the state."
The President's strategy is producing results. According to the latest University of Michigan Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug use that was released in December 2005, overall teen drug use has declined significantly since the President took office. Current use of illicit drugs by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined has dropped 19 percent since 2001. This translates into nearly 700,000 fewer young people using illicit drugs. However, challenges remain. Monitoring the Future reports that cocaine and heroin use, while low, has remained stable, while prescription drug abuse remains troubling.
Some highlights from the 2006 National Drug Control Strategy include:
-- Support for innovative drug prevention campaigns: Above the Influence, a new ONDCP advertising campaign, features a series of television, print, and web-based interactive advertisements that tap into the power teens gain when they resist negative influences that compromise their values and aspirations.
-- More support for random student drug testing: In addition to creating a culture of disapproval towards drugs, drug testing also achieves three public health goals: it deters young people from initiating drug use, it identifies those who have initiated drug use so that parents and counselors can intervene early, and it helps identify those who have a dependency on drugs so they can be referred to treatment.
-- Support for Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT): A key priority of the Administration is to make drug screening and intervention programs part of the Nation's existing network of health, education, law enforcement, and counseling providers. Focusing on this nexus is cost effective and limits the spread of drug use by individuals who are in the early stages of use, before the negative effects of continued use and addiction are compounded.
-- Healing America's drug users through the Access to Recovery (ATR) program: The President's ATR program offers vouchers to allow individuals the freedom to choose the most effective treatment program for them, including faith-based providers. One study of treatment programs found that every dollar spent on treatment saves nearly $7.50 in costs associated with crime and lost productivity.
-- Support for drug courts: Drugs courts use the power of the courts and the support of family, friends, and counselors to bring those struggling with addiction into recovery. Data show that within the first year of release, 43.5 percent of drug offenders are rearrested, whereas only 16.4 percent of drug court graduates are rearrested.
-- Targeting methamphetamine: In response to the increased threat from meth, U.S. law enforcement agencies have increased their efforts both domestically and internationally to stem the flow of meth and the precursor chemicals that are used to produce it. The Strategy highlights action undertaken by States that have made dramatic results.
-- Support for transit-zone interdiction: Transit-zone interdiction accounted for the removal of hundreds of tons of cocaine from the market in 2005. Large seizures denied traffickers significant profits from selling bulk quantities cocaine. They also prevented millions of dollars in illegal proceeds from returning to Colombia to fuel a longstanding insurgency, and to help reduce violence and bring stability to a key U.S. ally.
-- Work to secure the Southwest border: Because the U.S. government's counterdrug, counterterror, and immigration enforcement missions are interrelated, the Strategy outlines improved counterdrug efforts that will enhance border security. Interagency efforts are culminating in a coordinated National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy that will identify key strategic objectives and provide specific recommendations to address the illicit narcotics threat and significantly improve overall interdiction efforts along the Southwest Border.
A copy of President Bush's 2006 National Drug Control Strategy may be found at: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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