NCJ Number
147267
Date Published
1993
Length
22 pages
Annotation
November 1993 testimony of a U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) official before the House Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government focused on the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
Abstract
The ONDCP is required to develop a national drug control strategy, coordinate and oversee that strategy's implementation by Federal drug control agencies, and assess and reissue the strategy annually taking into account the previous year's experience. The Clinton Administration has proposed to extend the ONDCP's authorization, and the GAO believes the ONDCP should continue to operate as the central planning agency for Federal, State, and local drug control efforts. The GAO contends, however, that the ONDCP needs to develop improved program evaluation measures for assessing progress under the national drug control strategy. In the past, the ONDCP has relied primarily on "bottom line" goals and measures focusing on reducing actual drug use. While these measures are important, assessing actual drug use is extremely difficult. Further, actual drug use measures alone will not provide decisionmakers with the information they need to assess and make choices among various drug control programs and activities. The ONDCP and drug control agencies need to work cooperatively in developing, assessing, and coordinating national drug control policies. In addition, the ONDCP should have greater flexibility in the conduct of drug control budget reviews and certifications. Appendixes provide supplemental data on Federal funding for antidrug programs, drug use, drug-related homicides, drug-related hospital emergency room episodes, cocaine use, and juvenile drug arrest rates. 7 figures