09 November 2000
Fact Sheet: White House Sees Progress on U.S.
Counter-Drug Efforts
ONDCP finds clear drop in demand for illegal drugs
The following fact sheet on U.S. efforts to reduce the domestic demand
for illegal drugs was issued November 9 by the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP):
(Note: In the text, "billion" equals 1,000 million, and the acronym
"CD" stands for counter-drug.)
(begin text)
U.S. Demand Reduction Fact Sheet
9 November 2000
The U.S. National Drug Control Strategy is a balanced approach which
views Demand Reduction as the main effort, with Supply Reduction as a
critical supporting effort. The following facts should be helpful in
portraying the true state of drug abuse in the United States and the
emphasis of the National Drug Control Strategy.
U.S. Demand is Down
-- According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA),
over time, drug use is down substantially. Since 1979, the number of
current users of any illicit drug has declined from 25.4 million to
14.8 million (down 42%).
-- The Nation is clearly moving away from cocaine. Current use of
cocaine in the household population is down from its peak of 5.7
million users in 1985 to 1.5 million in 1999 (down 74%).
-- Current use of marijuana is also down, dropping from 23.8 million
users in 1979 to 11.2 million in 1999 (down 53%). This is further
confirmation that drug use has stabilized in the household population.
This year's big news is that the rate of current use of any drug among
12-17 year olds declined for the second straight year, showing a 21
percent drop over the past two years (from 11.4 % in 1997 to 9.0% in
1999).
Focus of U.S. Drug Control Effort is on Demand Reduction
-- Total U.S. CD Budget in FY 2001 is $19.2 Billion; only $5.004
Billion is spent on overseas activities.
-- Breakdown of U.S. CD spending by goals:
U.S. Domestic Demand Reduction Spending
Goal 1 -- Reduce Youth Drug Use -- $2.2 Billion
Goal 2 -- Reduce Drug-Related Crime and Violence -- $8.2 Billion
Goal 3 -- Reduce Consequences of Drug Use -- $3.7 Billion
Total Demand Reduction Spending -- $14.1 Billion (74% of total)
U.S. Overseas Supply Reduction Spending
Goal 4 -- Shield America's Frontiers -- $2.5 Billion
Goal 5 -- Break Sources of Supply -- $2.5 Billion
Major U.S. Demand Reduction Programs
-- Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: Multifaceted prevention effort
designed to reach children and their parents. Reaches 90% of America's
youth at least four times a week with a prevention message.
-- Drug Courts (Treatment in lieu of incarceration): A program which
leverages the criminal justice system to divert addicts into treatment
instead of incarceration. Rates of recidivism are lower than with
incarceration, and costs are much lower. Over 700 are in action
nationwide, with 184 operating just for juveniles.
-- Drug-Free Communities Program: Provides $100,000 grants to nearly
450 community anti-drug coalitions nationwide. Increases citizen
involvement in mobilizing communities against drugs.
-- Prevention and Treatment Research: The U.S. Government sponsors 85%
of demand reduction research globally. Over $700 Million dollars for
research in 2001, in areas such as: prevention among youth and special
populations; the compilation and dissemination of best practices for
treatment and research; the development of medication and behavioral
therapies for drug addiction; basic research into the nature of
addiction; and understanding and preventing relapse following
treatment.
-- Treatment and Prevention Services: The USG funds a host of programs
implementing treatment and prevention. These programs are scattered
throughout various agencies, such as the Veterans Administration and
the Department of Education. One of the largest such programs is the
Safe And Drug Free Schools Program ($200 M annually).
Additional Information on Demand Reduction can be found on the
Internet at:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/prevent/prevent.html
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/treat/treat.html
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