NCJ Number
102947
Date Published
1986
Length
10 pages
Annotation
On August 4, 1986, President Reagan announced six new goals for a national crusade against drug abuse: a drug-free workplace, drug-free schools, effective treatment for abusers, improved international cooperation to stop drug trafficking, further strengthening of drug law enforcement, and increased drug abuse prevention.
Abstract
A proposed omnibus legislative package would remove Federal legal barriers to drug testing in the workplace and in the schools, supply funds to help States and localities counter drug abuse and its consequences, permit Federal officers to make drug arrests in foreign countries, permit the deportation of aliens involved in drug trafficking, and strengthen criminal penalties against drug trafficking. The forfeiture of assets obtained from illegal drug trafficking would also be covered in the legislation. Drug abuse prevention is a principal thrust of the Reagan administration's drug policy. The first step in this policy is to rebut the prevalent view that drug abuse is a victimless crime. It is a crime which not only destroys users' lives but their families and communities. Drug prevention must involve collaboration among parents, school officials, students, community leaders, and community organizations. As has been proven with education about the consequences of smoking and alcohol consumption, education about drugs shapes attitudes, which in turn shape behavior.