Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rafael Lemaitre/ Rivers Johnson
202-395-6618
April 5, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dr. Donald Vereen, Jr. M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, will discuss the President's commitment to treatment and research at the second annual Lonnie E. Mitchell Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Substance Abuse Conference April 6 at The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel, 110 South Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD. More than 500 representatives from 118 Historically Black Colleges and Universities will be in attendance.

Deputy Director Vereen will speak at the closing plenary between 9:00 and 10:00 AM on Friday, April 6. Dr. Vereen's remarks on Friday will be open to the press. Edward H. Jurith, Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy addressed the opening plenary session on Wednesday, April 4th.

The theme of the conference, co-sponsored by ONDCP, is The Substance Abuse Dialogue Continues…Research to Practice, Practice to Research: Redefining the Roles of HBCU's and the Faith Community. Providing access to treatment for America's chronic drug abusers is a worthwhile endeavor. It is both compassionate public policy and a sound investment. President Bush has requested $111 million of additional funding (over FY2001) to increase access to substance abuse treatment and to help close the treatment gap. The treatment gap is the difference between the number of individuals who would benefit from drug treatment and the number who receive it.

Conference attendees will share research and objectives in substance abuse prevention, education and treatment.