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President Bush Releases National Drug Control Strategy

Posted: March 4th, 2008, 7:50am PST by ONDCP

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THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Today, my Administration is releasing our 2008 National Drug Control Strategy. This report lays out the methods we are using to combat drug abuse in America. And it highlights the hopeful progress we're making in the fight against addiction.

When I took office in 2001, our country was facing a troubling rate of drug abuse, particularly among young people. Throughout America, young men and women saw their dreams disrupted by the destructive cycle of addiction. So I committed our Nation to an ambitious goal: In 2002, we began efforts to cut drug use among young people by 25 percent over five years.

Our strategy has three key elements. First, we are working to disrupt the supply of drugs by strengthening law enforcement and partnering with other countries to keep drugs out of the United States. Second, we're working to reduce the demand for drugs through prevention and education programs. And third, we're providing treatment options for those who've fallen prey to addiction.

These efforts have produced measurable results. Since 2001, the rate of youth drug abuse has dropped by 24 percent. Young people's use of marijuana is down by 25 percent. Their use of Ecstasy has dropped by more than 50 percent. And their use of methamphetamine has declined by 64 percent. Overall, an estimated 860,000 fewer young people in America are using drugs today than when we began these efforts.

Our drug control strategy will continue all three elements of this successful approach. It will also target a growing problem -- the abuse of prescription drugs by youth. Unfortunately, many young Americans do not understand how dangerous abusing medication can be. And in recent years, the number of Americans who have died from prescription drug overdoses has increased.

One of the factors behind this trend is the growing availability of highly addictive prescription drugs online. The Internet has brought about tremendous benefits for those who cannot easily get to a pharmacy in person. However, it has also created an opportunity for unscrupulous doctors and pharmacists to profit from addiction.

One victim of such a doctor was Ryan Haight. The young man from California was only 18 when he overdosed on pain killers that were illegally prescribed over the Internet. With only a few clicks of the mouse, Ryan was able to get a prescription from a doctor he had never met and have the pills sent to his front door. The doctor who wrote Ryan's prescription had previously served time in prison for illegally dispensing controlled substances.

We need to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future. So I'm asking Congress to work with my Administration to put an end to the illegal sale of highly addictive prescription drugs on the Internet. By working together to meet this goal, we can ensure a safer future for our children.

Government action is only one part of the solution to the problem of drug abuse. Others in our society have an important role to play as well. People in the entertainment and sports industries serve as role models to millions of young Americans, and that comes with the responsibility to dispel the notion that drug abuse is glamorous and free of consequences. Teachers, pastors, and parents also have an obligation to help young people develop the character and self-respect to resist drugs. The Federal Government will continue to do its part to keep our young people safe, and I urge all Americans to do the same. Our children deserve nothing less.

Thank you for listening.
Director Walters Launches $10 Million Anti-Meth Campaign

Posted: September 14th, 2007, 9:30am PDT by ONDCP

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The White House National Drug Control Policy Director, John Walters, announces a new campaign targeting young adult methamphetamine (meth) users during a visit to Seattle, Washington. The Anti-Meth Campaign, coordinated through the ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, includes advertising and public education outreach to raise awareness about the dangers of meth and provide information about the effectiveness and availability of meth treatment. The main target audience for the Campaign is young adults, ages 18 to 34.
Early Marijuana Use a Warning Sign for Later Gang Involvement

Posted: June 21st, 2007, 2:30pm PDT by ONDCP

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In this podcast, Director Walters discusses a new Special Report showing that teens who use drugs are more likely to engage in violent and delinquent behavior and join gangs. Early use of marijuana, the most commonly used drug among teens, is a warning sign for later gang involvement.
Drug Czar's Keynote Address to Canadian Officials

Posted: February 23rd, 2007, 12:50pm PST by ONDCP

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Director Walters concluded a productive international mission to Ottawa where he underscored America's strong friendship with the government and citizens of Canada. During the visit, Director Walters thanked the Canadian government for their renewed focus on disrupting organized criminal activity and drug trafficking and met with high-level officials including the Drug Prevention Network of Canada - a group committed to preventing drug use before it starts and reducing drug use among Canadian citizens.

During a keynote speech hosted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Walters pledged to continue to work with high-level Canadian officials and highlighted progress made in reducing drug use in the United States.
Teens and Prescription Drugs

Posted: February 16th, 2007, 11:30am PST by ONDCP

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Director of National Drug Control Policy John P. Walters released a new White House analysis that shows alarming trends in teen abuse of prescription drugs and cough and cold medicines to get high. The report shows that teens are turning away from street drugs, like marijuana and cocaine, and are now abusing prescription drugs to get high.
Release of the 2007 National Drug Control Strategy

Posted: February 13th, 2007, 5:00am PST by ONDCP

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John P. Walters, Director of the National Drug Control Policy, (ONDCP) released President Bush's 2007 National Drug Control Strategy during a visit to a faith-based drug treatment center in Portland, Oregon. The Administration's new Strategy builds on recent declines in drug use in the United States and outlines a balanced strategy against illegal drugs, including support for programs that stop drug use before it starts, provide treatment for drug users, and disrupt the market for illegal drugs. The release of the 2007 National Drug Control Strategy follows the release of the President's Drug Control Budget, which calls for $12.9 billion to support prevention, treatment, and supply reduction efforts.
New Report: Teen Drug Use Drops Dramatically

Posted: December 27th, 2006, 7:00am PST by ONDCP

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Director Walters, Attorney General Gonzales, and officials from the National Institute on Drug Abuse release the results of Monitoring the Future, the largest national survey of youth drug use in America. The survey reports that there are 840,000 fewer young people using drugs today than five years ago, a 23 percent drop since 2001.
Director Walters discusses the results of the 2005 NSDUH

Posted: September 7th, 2006, 12:00pm PDT by ONDCP

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The survey, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, finds that current illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 continues to decline. The rate has been moving downward from 11.6 percent using drugs in the past month in 2002 to 11.2 percent in 2003, 10.6 percent in 2004 and 9.9 percent in 2005. This initial report from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released at the annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Recovery Month Observance, focuses on significant trends in substance abuse and mental health problems since 2002.

Similarly, the rate of current marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17 declined significantly from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2005, and the average age of first use of marijuana increased from under age 17 in 2003 to 17.4 years in 2005. Furthermore, drinking among teens declined, with 16.5 percent of youth ages 12-17 reporting current alcohol use and 9.9 percent reporting binge drinking. This compares with 17.6 percent of this age group reporting drinking in 2004 and 11.1 percent reporting binge drinking in the past month in 2004. These declines in alcohol use by youth, ages 12-17, follow years of relatively unchanged rates.

The baby boomer generation presents a different story. Among adults aged 50 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2005, reflecting the aging into this age group - the baby boom cohort.
Teens, Technology, and Drugs: An Inside Look

Posted: July 21st, 2006, 1:25pm PDT by ONDCP

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Despite its many advantages, today's technology can also expose teens to a dangerous world of drugs. To highlight this growing problem, the nation's Drug Czar recently hosted a roundtable with teens in treatment, who shared their stories and the unexpected ways that technology helped facilitate their drug use. Teen expert Peter Zollo of Teenage Research Unlimited discussed new trends related to teens, technology and drugs, and the Drug Czar highlighted steps parents can take to help protect adolescents in today's digital world.
Release of 2006 U.N. World Drug Report

Posted: June 27th, 2006, 11:45am PDT by ONDCP

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Audio from the release of 2006 UN World Drug Report at the National Press Club on June 26th. Participants included Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Director Walters, DEA Administrator Karen Tandy, and Ambassador Anne Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement

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Posted: March 4th, 2008, 7:50am PST by ONDCP

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Posted: September 14th, 2007, 9:30am PDT by ONDCP

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Posted: June 21st, 2007, 2:30pm PDT by ONDCP

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Posted: February 23rd, 2007, 12:50pm PST by ONDCP

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Posted: February 16th, 2007, 11:30am PST by ONDCP

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Posted: February 13th, 2007, 5:00am PST by ONDCP

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Posted: December 27th, 2006, 7:00am PST by ONDCP

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Posted: September 7th, 2006, 12:00pm PDT by ONDCP

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Posted: July 21st, 2006, 1:25pm PDT by ONDCP

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Posted: June 27th, 2006, 11:45am PDT by ONDCP

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