NCJ Number
234320
Date Published
2011
Length
118 pages
Annotation
This National Drug Control Strategy for 2011 continues the balanced approach pursued in the 2010 strategy - which draws upon prevention, treatment, recovery support, law enforcement, interdiction, and international partnerships - in an effort to achieve a 15-percent reduction in the rate of drug use over 5 years.
Abstract
The 2011 strategy will build on and further implement the achievements of 2010. Two of those achievements were the enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduces the disparity in the amounts of powder cocaine and crack cocaine required for the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences. It also increases penalties for major drug traffickers. Also enacted was the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2011, which will help communities combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic by providing States and localities the authority to collect unused prescription drugs for safe disposal. The 2011 Strategy continues efforts to coordinate a government-wide public health approach to reduce drug use and its negative consequences in the United States while maintaining strong support for law enforcement. In addition to this overarching approach to drug abuse, the 2011 Strategy focuses on three areas where short-term progress can make a significant difference in public safety: prescription drug abuse, drugged driving, and prevention. The 2011 Strategy also proposes new policies and practices that will improve how the Federal Government responds to special populations, including college and university students, women and families, and military veterans and their families. Features are outlined of the two strategy goals to be attained by 2015: the curtailment of illicit drug consumption in America and improvement in the public health and public safety of the American people by reducing the consequences of drug abuse. 12 figures, 104 references, and appended supplementary data