NCJ Number
180085
Date Published
March 2000
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This sixth Counterdrug Research and Development Blueprint Update reports on the status of the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) counterdrug research and development program, the Technology Transfer Program, oversight and coordination activity, and a summary of plans for future counterdrug research and development initiatives.
Abstract
The CTAC was established within the Office of National Drug Control Policy as the central counterdrug enforcement research and development (R and D) organization of the U.S. Government. The CTAC counterdrug R and D program supports the National Drug Control Strategy. The applied technology efforts that comprise the CTAC R and D program address technology for demand-reduction in areas such as brain imaging technology, therapeutic medications assessment and addiction treatment, and for supply reduction in areas such as drug detection, communications, and surveillance. In 1998 Congress authorized a Technology Transfer Program for CTAC to provide proven technologies to State and local law enforcement agencies. Congress continued this program in 1999 and 2000. In reducing the demand for illicit drugs, CTAC has worked in conjunction with the National Institute on Drug Abuse to provide the most advanced facilities to the Nation's premier teams of medical researchers working on the underlying causes of substance abuse, dependence, and addiction. Additionally, the Drug Evaluation Network System "backbone" is being used to accommodate innovative methodologies for estimating the number of hardcore drug users by region and nationwide. In supply reduction, efforts are focusing on finding technological solutions to meet the needs of the officer on the beat. Advanced coded aperture and neutron probe technologies are being developed to examine drug shipments as they enter the country. The Ten-Year Counterdrug Technology Plan and Development Roadmap organized the technology development efforts of the Federal drug control agencies. Each agency now prepares annual plans, performance reports, and five-year strategic plans. CTAC continues to review and monitor the progress of each agency's technology development program based on these submissions. Appended listing of applicable legislation, counterdrug scientific and technological needs, counterdrug R and D project, annual report on the development and deployment of narcotics detection technologies by Federal agencies, and Technology Transfer Program