Press Release |
|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2005 |
CONTACT: Rafael Lemaitre 202–395–6649 Cell in Miami: 202–368–8424 |
WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR CALLS FOR DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DRUG TREATMENT COURTS NATIONWIDE
Director John Walters Describes Drug Courts as "Most Significant Criminal Justice Initiative in the Last 20 Years"; Releases New National Drug Strategy Aimed At Broadening the Nationwide Drug Treatment Court Phenomenon
(Washington, D.C.)—John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today released President Bush's 2005 National Drug Control Strategy during a visit to the first-ever drug treatment court in the United States. The new Strategy calls for a balance between reducing the demand and supply for illegal drugs in America, and outlines new programs which have been proven to be effective ways of combating substance abuse.
A key component of the 2005 Strategy calls for an increase of $30.5 million to increase the number of drug treatment courts nationwide. The first drug court in the nation opened in Miami in 1989. Today, there are over 1,621 across the U.S. Director Walters said, "Drug treatment courts are now a national phenomenon. They are an effective way of reducing the drug problem in America. By giving judges the power to refer people to treatment we reduce criminal recidivism, save taxpayer money, and heal those who have become enslaved by drug addiction."
Recent national research has shown that, from a sample of 17,000 drug court graduates nationwide, within one year of program graduation, only 16.4 percent had been rearrested and charged with a felony. Taxpayers have also saved money with drug courts. A New York drug court study found that the state saved $252 million in incarceration costs and diverted 18,000 non-violent drug offenders into treatment.
Other highlights from the 2005 National Drug Control Strategy include:
-
A total of $3.2 billion for drug treatment. This is an increase of $141 million over last year.
-
$150 million—an increase of over $50 million - for President Bush's Access to Recovery program. Access to Recovery is an innovative voucher program that provides drug treatment to individuals who otherwise might be unable to obtain it. People in need of treatment receive an assessment of their treatment need and are issued vouchers to obtain help at effective treatment centers, including faith-based and community organizations.
-
Continuing support for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. The campaign is an integrated effort that combines advertising with public communications outreach. The campaign will continue to develop a series of advertisements that coach parents in monitoring teen behavior and promote early intervention against signs of early drug use.
-
The Strategy highlights the importance of student drug testing, a prevention approach that deters drug use while guiding users to needed treatment or counseling. The Administration requests $25.4 million for student drug testing programs—an increase of $15.4 million.
-
Increased support for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) programs. SBIRT programs work by screening all individuals accessing medical settings such as emergency rooms, trauma centers, health clinics, and community health centers for possible drug problems.
-
An increase of $219 million to help secure our borders by interdicting drugs before they reach the streets of America.
-
Continuing strong support of drug supply reduction efforts in the Andes including Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, and Panama. The Administration is asking for $734.5 million.
-
The President's Budget includes an increase of $166.2 million in support of counternarcotics programs in Afghanistan. This enhancement will bring total counternarcotics funding to $188.0 million in 2006. Funds will be used to expand the Central Poppy Eradication Force of 100-member Afghan teams to continue the annual poppy crop eradication campaign. Funds also will provide technical advisors, equipment, helicopters and bases to develop the Rapid Interdiction Force and strengthen ground mobile interdiction teams. They will also help build democracy and prevent narco-terror.
The release of the 2005 Strategy builds on the successes of reducing drug use over the past few years. According to the latest Monitoring the Future survey, drug use among young people has declined by 17 percent since 2001. There are now over half a million fewer young people using drugs than in 2001.
A copy of President Bush's National Drug Control Strategy
is available at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
