14 February 2001
Senators Say Anti-Drug Legislation
Will Stress Prevention, Education
Leahy, Hatch unveil proposal to curb drug addiction
By Cecilia Hernandez
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- New legislation aimed at reducing drug abuse "provides a
comprehensive approach ... that will assist all of our states in their
efforts to address the drug problems that most affect our
communities," says Senator Patrick Leahy (Democrat of Vermont).
At a February 12 press conference, Leahy and Senator Orrin Hatch
(Republican of Utah) briefed reporters on the Drug Abuse Education,
Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2001, which has broad bipartisan
support in Congress. Joseph Califano, Jr., president of the Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), accompanied the senators.
Whereas previous anti-drug legislation often emphasized law
enforcement almost exclusively, this bill attacks the drug scourge
through a more balanced approach, the lawmakers said. The three main
components of the new legislation -- prevention, treatment and law
enforcement -- are each considered essential parts of the whole,
according to Leahy. "Take away any of the three legs, and the progress
we can achieve against drug abuse will suffer," he said.
Hatch agreed, arguing that "our law enforcement efforts to reduce the
supply of illegal drugs must be complemented by a substantial
commitment to reduce the demand for these substances." He paid tribute
to Leahy "for joining me in leading this bipartisan effort," and
declared: "We need to do more to prevent America's youth from even
starting down the destructive path of drug abuse and to find ways to
treat those who have become trapped in addiction."
Many of the bill's provisions focus on grass-roots efforts, which
experts increasingly cite as the basis for nation-wide success in the
fight against illicit drugs. Under the heading of prevention, the bill
will help fund after-school and community programs aimed at educating
youngsters about drugs so that they are better able to avoid addiction
in the first place.
The legislation will also authorize funding for treatment programs
within the prison system, drug treatment programs for juveniles, and
residential treatment centers for mothers addicted to heroin or other
drugs. According to a study launched by CASA, former inmates are much
less likely to become repeat offenders if they have access to drug
treatment services after release from prison. Leahy alluded to the
well-documented link between crime and drug abuse as he praised the
"heroic efforts" of states and local communities to combat the
problem.
The CASA study concludes that a drug addict commits about 100 crimes a
year. With new treatment programs in place throughout U.S. prisons,
CASA predicts that there could be roughly 1,000,000 fewer crimes per
year for every 10,000 inmates who are released. "Prison should provide
an opportunity for us to break this [drug abuse] cycle and therefore
reduce crime," said Califano.
Law enforcement plays a significant role in the new legislation as
well. The bill directs the U.S. sentencing commission to review
current penalties for drug crimes and to increase the penalties for
crimes that involve distributing drugs to minors, using minors to
distribute drugs, trafficking near schools, and using federal property
to grow and manufacture controlled substances.
Representatives from several organizations appeared at the press
conference to lend their support to the bill, including officials from
CASA, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, the Boys and
Girls Club of America, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
The complex nature of drug addiction "cries out for national help in
forging answers that ultimately will be forged at the state and local
levels," said Leahy. He described the Drug Abuse Education,
Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2001 as "a bipartisan plan that
signals our commitment to make this solution a top priority" in the
years ahead.
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Narcotics
