A draft of the 2010 National Drug control strategy has been released and while it still awaits final approval the draft represents the main goals of the program. It is however likely that the White House drug czar R. Gil Kerlikowske will face opposition in getting the funding the program will need.
In the budget issued by the white house 65% of the $15.5 billion for anti-drug spending is devoted to law enforcement, this is about the same percentage allotted under George W. Bush. This along with the removal of the drug czar from the cabinet seems to erode the power of the office. Drug addiction is a major problem in the country and lessening the power of the drug czar seems an odd approach to defeating it.
The draft document starts out in a preface:
“Drug overdose deaths surpass gunshot deaths in our country, and in 16 states, overdose deaths are a more common cause of accidental death than car crashes.”
The budget does not as clearly reflect the new strategy stated in another excerpt from the same document;
“We cannot continue to pursue the same old strategy and expect better results. The Obama Administration’s strategy is unique because it takes advantage of what we now know about how to more effectively prevent drug use, provide addiction treatment, and enforce the law against illegal drugs.”
This along with the diminished importance of the drug czar post concerns many who once hoped that Obama would revamp the whole approach to drug control. While the “War On Drugs” moniker is no longer being used, the actual approach does not seem far removed from policy enacted by the former president George Bush.
The draft proposal does bring new approaches such as strengthening community preventions programs, but funding for these programs does not seem to be in line with the proposal. One point, Developing a community-oriented national prevention system targeted to young people, would require large amounts of funding to get in place. This funding would likely take away from the DARE programs currently being used by law enforcement.
Narconon of Georgia supports community education by providing free drug education lectures and materials to schools around Georgia.
