One year ago, the President's National Drug Control Strategy set the goals of reducing past-month, or "current," use of illegal drugs by 10 percent over 2 years and 25 percent over 5 years.

Allocating resources intelligently requires us to be able to measure the results of such goals. We need to focus not on perceived needs but on what works; our decisions must be based on performance, and we must select priorities.

Three priorities were identified to help achieve our core goals—Stopping Use Before It Starts, Healing America's Drug Users, and Disrupting the Market.

The ultimate success of our efforts should be judged by whether they are helping drive down drug use. The effectiveness of our priorities, by contrast, will be judged by numerous complimentary measures, many of which are contained in this companion volume to the National Drug Control Strategy.

John P. Walters Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy