NCJ Number
176986
Date Published
February 1999
Length
120 pages
Annotation
The 1999 National Drug Control Strategy updates the effort to reduce the abuse, availability, and consequences of illegal drugs; the strategy focuses on shrinking the demand for drugs in the United States through prevention and treatment and attacking the supply of drugs through law enforcement and international cooperation.
Abstract
The strategy notes drug abuse is preventable. If children reach adulthood without using illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, they are not likely to develop a chemical dependency problem. To this end, the strategy seeks to involve parents, coaches, mentors, teachers, clergy, and other role models in a broad prevention campaign. The strategy also notes drug dependence is a chronic disorder that exacts significant costs on individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Addicted individuals frequently engage in self-destructive and criminal behavior, and treatment can help them end dependence on drugs. Treatment programs also reduce the consequences of addictive drug use on the rest of society. Along with prevention and treatment, law enforcement is essential in reducing drug abuse. International cooperation is also necessary to deal with drug trafficking and criminal organizations and to strengthen democratic institutions worldwide. The strategy contains a drug use profile for the United States and performance measures of effectiveness and outlines a comprehensive drug control approach based on preventing drug abuse, treating drug dependence, breaking the cycle of drugs and crime, enforcing drug laws, shielding U.S. borders from the drug threat, reducing the supply of illegal drugs, and promoting international drug control cooperation. Data on the availability and prevalence of drug use in the United States are appended. Tables and figures