NCJ Number
13
Date Published
1970
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THE DRUG ABUSE TASK FORCE WAS FORMED IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS SITUATION OUTLINED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Abstract
THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE LEAA GRANT WAS TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN REGION BY ACCOMPLISHING TWO SPECIFIC GOALS TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR COORDINATING THE DRUG USE PREVENTION AND ADDICT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS OPERATIVE IN THE REGION, AND SECOND TO INITIATE A PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAM AIMED AT DIRECTING ADDICTS AND DRUG ABUSERS TOWARD TREATMENT, AND NON-USERS AWAY FROM EXPERIMENTATION WITH DRUGS. FOUR FUNCTIONAL AREAS CONCERNING DRUG ABUSE WERE DELINEATED CLEARINGHOUSE, PUBLIC INFORMATION, SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES AND CURRICULUM. IN EACH OF THESE AREAS, THE EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON PLANNING RATHER THAN OPERATIONS SO THAT COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS AND PERSONS ALREADY WORKING IN THIS FIELD COULD GO FORWARD WITH NEWLY DEVELOPED PROGRAMS. WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLE FOR PERFORMING A PARTICULARLY NEEDED FUNCTION COULD BE FOUND, THE STAFF ENGAGED IN OPERATING PROGRAMS. WHEN AGENCIES LATER EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN PERFORMING SUCH ACTIVITIES, THE STAFF QUICKLY TURNED THESE FUNCTIONS OVER TO THEM. THIS PHILOSOPHY IS BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY THE STAFF'S ASSUMPTION OF TELEPHONE REFERRAL SERVICES EARLY IN THE GRANT YEAR ONLY TO TURN THIS ACTIVITY OVER TO THE DISTRICT'S NARCOTICS TREATMENT ADMINISTRATION ONCE THAT PROGRAM BECAME FULLY OPERATIONAL (AUTHOR ABSTRACT).