NCJ Number
165646
Date Published
Unknown
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Five policies are outlined to reduce and prevent drug abuse: (1) compel drug abuse treatment for criminal offenders; (2) ensure every addicted person gets treatment; (3) make drug abuse prevention an urgent priority in every community; (4) increase alcohol and tobacco taxes; and (5) provide media time for advertisements portraying health risks of alcohol.
Abstract
Although drug abuse is a national problem, dealing with it requires concerted efforts by communities and citizens. Each community should develop a comprehensive strategy for reducing alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco use that is coordinated across institutions and among individual citizens. Further, drug abuse treatment should be an integral part of the criminal justice system since drug treatment programs represent the most cost-effective way of reducing drug abuse and related crime. Because all young people are at risk of becoming drug abusers, an urgent drug prevention agenda is needed that strengthens the enforcement of underage alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco laws and that targets high-risk youth through drug abuse education. Government agencies need to significantly increase taxes on the sale and use of alcohol and tobacco products, with revenues earmarked for drug abuse treatment and prevention. Broadcasters who air alcohol advertising should be required to provide equal air time for advertisements portraying negative effects of drinking, and other media should voluntarily provide equal space for such counter-advertising. Each community should assess its own particular needs and identify action steps, policies, and strategies appropriate to meeting those needs. 8 footnotes