NCJ Number
113192
Date Published
1988
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The Comptroller General of the United States argues that Federal drug abuse control policy and strategy needs reassessment because current policies are not working.
Abstract
Although they disagree about which antidrug programs work best, an increasing number of experts believe that we should focus more on the basis of the problem, the demand for illegal drugs. Federal drug control efforts also need better management and stronger leadership. We lack a cohesive Federal antidrug policy and stragegy. The authority and responsibility for planning and coordinating Federal anti-drug efforts needs to rest with a single official directly accountable to the President. This individual needs strong and sustained support from the President and Congress. Further attention needs also to focus on the costs and benefits of having the military become increasingly involved in supporting Federal anti-drug efforts. Increasing military support would probably produce more drug seizures and arrests, but it may not significantly reduce drug supplies. Department of Defense officials also believe that substantially increased military assistance could harm military readiness. In addition, providing military personnel with search, seizure, and arrest authority would represent a significant departure from this nation's longstanding tradition of separating national defense and civilian law enforcement responsibilities. Figures.