NCJ Number
172366
Date Published
1998
Length
16 pages
Annotation
After outlining why America must respond to the drug problem and why there is cause for guarded optimism, this paper summarizes recent drug control initiatives, followed by a review of the strategic goals and objectives of the 1996 national drug control strategy.
Abstract
The five strategic goals are to motivate America's youth to reject illegal drugs and substance abuse; increase the safety of America's citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence; reduce health, welfare, and crime costs that result from illegal drug use; shield America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat; and break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply. Objectives for motivating America's youth to reject illegal drugs and substance abuse include increasing the number of State governments and community organizations participating in the development of national prevention standards and a national prevention infrastructure; increasing the number of schools with comprehensive drug prevention and early intervention strategies with a focus on family involvement; and increasing the number of community drug coalitions through a focus on the need for public support of local drug prevention empowerment efforts. The goal of reducing drug-related crime and violence involves the objective of increasing the effectiveness of local police through the implementation of community and problem-oriented policing with a focus on youth and gang violence, drug-related homicides, and domestic violence. The goal of reducing health, welfare, and crime costs resulting from illegal drug use includes the objectives of increasing treatment efficiency and effectiveness; using effective outreach, referral, and case management efforts to facilitate early access to treatment; and reducing the spread of infectious diseases and other illnesses related to drug use. Shielding America's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat includes the objective of identifying and implementing options, including science and technology options, to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement to stop the flow of drugs into the United States, especially along the southwest border. Finally, breaking foreign and domestic drug sources of supply involves destroying major trafficking organizations by arresting, convicting, and incarcerating their leaders and top associates and seizing their drugs and assets. 4 figures