Text: 2001 National Drug Control Strategy Summary

04 January 2001

Text: 2001 National Drug Control Strategy Summary

National survey shows U.S. drug abuse declining

An estimated 14.8 million Americans over age 12 were using illicit drugs in 1999, according to the results of the 2001 Annual Report on the National Drug Control Strategy released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) January 4.

That total represents 6.7 percent of the U.S. population, a statistic that reveals a "significant, consistent, downward trend over time," according to a press summary of the report. That figure contrasts with a 14.1 percent rate of illicit drug use revealed by surveys conducted in 1979, considered the nation's highest rate of drug use.

"Drug abuse is preventable," ONDCP Director Barry R. McCaffrey wrote in the foreword to the report. "The Strategy seeks to involve parents, coaches, mentors, teachers, clergy and other role models in a broad prevention campaign."

The survey of 1999 data also found that 1.5 million Americans were arrested for drug-law violations in 1999. On the legal front, McCaffrey's foreword says, "Drug trafficking threatens both the rule of law and human rights. Supply-reduction programs attack international criminal organizations, strengthen democratic institutions, and honor our drug-control commitments abroad."

The January 4 news conference in which ONDCP released the report and McCaffrey discussed the findings is among his last official acts with the agency. His resignation is effective January 6. So far, President-elect George W. Bush has not announced his selection to serve in a position that's come to be known as "the nation's drug czar."

Following is a summary of the National Drug Control Strategy:

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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY

2001 Annual Report on the National Drug Control Strategy

America's Drug Abuse Profile

Overall Trends: In 1999, an estimated 14.8 million Americans twelve years of age and older were current illicit drug users. This number represents 6.7 percent of the population twelve and older. Drug use reached peak levels in 1979 when 14.1 percent of the population (25 million) age twelve and over were current users. There has been an increasing trend for marijuana use among young adults, age 18-25 years, since 1997. An estimated 3.6 million people met diagnostic criteria for dependence on illegal drugs in 1999.

Juvenile Trends: The National Household Survey reported that nine percent of youths age 12-17 in 1999 reported current use of illicit drugs. This number represents a significant, consistent, downward trend over time from 11.4 percent in 1997 to 9.9 percent in 1998 and 9.0 percent in 1999 (down 2 1 % over the two-year period). Marijuana is the major illicit drug used by youth age 12-17; 7.7 percent of youths were current users of marijuana in 1999. Use of cocaine overall decreased in several categories among 12'h graders. Specifically, past-year use of cocaine overall declined 19 percent (from 6.2% to 5.0%). The increase of MDMA (ecstasy) and steroid usage rates among youth is of grave concern. Past-year use of ecstasy by 8h graders increased 82 percent (from 1.7 percent to 3.1 percent) between 1999 and 2000. Among 10 graders, past-year steroid use increased 29 percent between 1999 and 2000, from 1.7 percent to 2.2 percent.

Drug Availability: Marijuana is the most readily available illegal drug in the United States, most of which is foreign grown. In 1999, domestic cocaine availability was estimated at 276 metric tons -- a four-year low. Annual U.S. heroin availability estimates vary between 12.9 and 18 metric tons depending on assessment methodologies. Methamphetamine manufacturing is experiencing unprecedented growth, and availability at the retail level has increased from 11.9 metric tons in 1997 to an estimated 15.5 metric tons in 2000. MDMA has become increasingly accessible to the American public. U.S. Customs Service seized 9.3 million ecstasy tablets in 2000, compared to 3.5 million in 1999 and 750,000 in 1998.

Consequences of Drug Abuse: The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) survey confirms an overall trend of stability in the numbers of drug-related emergency room visits over the past five years in the general population. Among 12-17 year olds, there was an 11 percent decrease in emergency room visits for drug-related reasons from 1998 to 1999. Illegal drugs cost our society approximately $110 billion each year.

Drugs and Crime: More than 1.5 million Americans were arrested for drug-law violations in 1999. At least 50 percent of adult male arrestees tested positive for at least one drug in 34 sites nationwide. Drug offenders accounted for the largest source of the total growth among female inmates (36%), compared to 18% among male inmates. In 1998, an estimated 7 in 10 local jail inmates (or 417,000 inmates) had used drugs regularly or had committed a drug offense. This number compares to 261,000 jail inmates in 1989.

Drugs and the Workplace: An estimated 16.4 percent of unemployed adults (age 18 and older) were current illicit drug users in 1999, compared with 6.5 percent of full-time employed adults and 8.6 percent among part-time employed adults. More than 77 percent of current illicit drug users aged 18 and older are employed full or part-time - numbering approximately 9.42 million workers.

Congress mandates that ONDCP submit an annual report on its strategy by February 1st. The 2001 Annual Report is the second one submitted to Congress. This report summarizes the findings from surveys and studies reported in 2000.

The National Drug Control Strategy goals:

--Educate and enable America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco.

--Increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence.

--Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use by reducing the treatment gap.

--Shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.

--Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

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