UPDATE Newsletter
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A MESSAGE FROM ONDCP
President Unveils
National Drug Control Strategy

In February, President George W. Bush and ONDCP Director John P.Walters announced the 2002 National Drug Control Strategy. "It is a plan that will lay out a comprehensive strategy for our nation. We’re putting the fight against drugs in the center of our national agenda," said Bush.

"We understand we can’t do it alone here in Washington. And that’s why our approach is a community-based approach. That’s why we recognize the true strength of the country is our people," said Bush.

The strategy mobilizes our nation’s efforts along three major themes:

  • Stopping Use Before it Starts. Through the Campaign, ONDCP engages parents, educational institutions, the media and community coalitions in actions to prevent young people from experimenting with drugs in the first instance and starting on the path that all too often leads to addiction, crime and personal and familial destruction.

  • Healing America’s Drug Users. The Bush administration places a strong emphasis on drug treatment.The president has made an historic commitment of $1.6 billion over five years to increase treatment funding. ONDCP will work to deploy these resources to areas and populations that need it most and provide more effective outreach to the chronically addicted drug-using population.

  • Disrupting the Market. ONDCP is adjusting the nation’s efforts in supply reduction based on market principles and will identify and target strategic vulnerabilities in the business of drug trafficking. ONDCP will attack the drugs, money and corrupt financial institutions, precursor chemicals, key managers and individuals, crops, key transit routes and key communication links that facilitate drug trafficking.

    The strategy focuses on results and providing accountability to the American people, to Congress and to America’s partners around the globe. "We will measure our success against our national goals of a 10 percent reduction in teenage and adult current drug use over the next two years, and a 25 percent reduction in current drug use, nationally, over the next five years, measured by the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)," said Walters.



    Last Updated: July 1, 2002