DRUG ADDICTION:
THE STRUGGLE

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There is no magic bullet to eradicate drug abuse. Drugs purport to provide an instant answer to boredom, anxiety or pain. But the solution to the drug problem for the individual and the country is anything but instant. Treating drug addiction requires patience, compassion, and a will to carry on.

Barry McCaffrey
Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

FOCUS

Dealing with Addiction
While there is no magic bullet to eradicate drug abuse, effective treatment programs can bring a sustained reduction in drug use.
By Barry McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

The U.S. Effort to Fight Drug Use
A U.S. Senator writes that the United States is determined to deal with the drug problem by supporting treatment programs and fighting the major criminal organizations involved in drug production.
By Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control

COMMENTARY

Addiction Is a Brain Disease
Addictive drugs change the brain in fundamental ways, producing compulsive, uncontrollable drug seeking and use.
An interview with Alan Leshner, Director, National Institute of
Drug Abuse

Drug Prevention Makes a Difference
Difficulties in cutting off the supply of drugs into the United States have led to a new interest in prevention programs that work.
By Mathea Falco, president of Drug Strategies, a nonprofit policy institute

REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS

Drug Courts: A Personalized Form of Justice
Drug courts have succeeded in getting addicts into programs that include treatment and job training.

Drug Use: A U.S. Concern for Over a Century
An article by the Congressional Research Service explores the history of drug use in the United States and the nation's current drug control strategy.

Declaring Illegal Drugs Enemy Number One
The U.S. Conference of Mayors produces an action plan for reducing drug use in American cities.

Treatment Programs Reduce Drug Use
A five-year study of treatment programs shows a 50 percent decline in drug use.

DEPARTMENTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books, documents, and articles on drug treatment and addiction.

ARTICLE ALERT
Abstracts of recent articles on treatment and addiction.

NOTE ON INTERNET SITES:
The Narcotics and Substance Abuse page on the USIS homepage provides an extensive amount of additional information, including documents and articles, as well as many other internet sites from both the public and private sectors.

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Global Issues
USIA Electronic Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, June 1997