• A significant decrease in past 30-day use for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription drugs among middle school and high school youth;
• An increase in the percentage of survey respondents who reported that regular use of tobacco, alcohol, or prescription drugs has moderate or great risk;
• An increase in the perception of peer disapproval among middle school students in each of the four substance areas, and for high school students in each substance except marijuana.
• An increase in perception of parent disapproval for each of the substance areas, with the exception of marijuana among high school youth.

• Enhanced access to HCV testing based on the availability of rapid point-of-care tests and US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for HCV screening among individuals at high risk for infection; 
• Improved access to health coverage based on provisions of the Affordable Care Act and Federal parity protections; and,
• New HCV therapies that are effective in curing HCV in the majority of people who complete treatment.  

<sup>1. 2010 Census data, http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf↩
2. 2013 National Drug Use and Health Survey, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-SR200-RecoveryMonth-2014/NSDUH-SR200-RecoveryMonth-2014.htm↩</sup>

One notable example of progress is the increasingly widespread support for a public health-focused approach to the drug problem. Just a few years ago, a focus on prevention, early intervention, behavioral and medication-assisted treatment, overdose prevention, and recovery support services was controversial in many areas of the world. In fact, there was a time when the word “recovery” was not even accepted in U.N. documents. But in 2014, a U.S. resolution on recovery at the annual U.N. global drug meeting (the Commission on Narcotic Drugs) easily won approval.  These discussions at the U.N. and elsewhere have led to a greater appreciation of the urgent need to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders – both out of genuine compassion and as a means to encourage those who need help to seek treatment.

Implementing public health policies requires a lot of hard work and an investment in building treatment capacity, including training medical professionals on how to address substance use disorders through screening and early intervention. Once medical professionals are trained to screen patients for substance use, they can identify and address problems earlier. This type of assessment can result in huge long-term savings in future criminal justice and other public costs.

Also critical to improving public health is the use of medications to treat addiction and the implementation of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) protocols. Although cultural and social stigmas regarding medications used to treat opioid use disorders persist in some places, clinical research has shown it is highly effective, reducing relapse rates and improving health outcomes significantly.

Another encouraging development is the emerging global consensus in favor of alternatives to incarceration for people with substance use disorders.

There are now over 2,900 drug treatment courts in the United States and dozens more internationally. Over the years, these specialized courts have continued to refine and improve their operations. This intervention has repeatedly demonstrated success in decreasing recidivism, driving drug use down, and reducing criminal justice costs.  In addition, DTCs break down the walls that too often divide justice and health agencies, allowing them to work together toward the same goal.  It is no surprise that international partners are studying these models and adapting them to the challenges they face in their countries.

In just over a decade, Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) and similar initiatives operating in about 40 jurisdictions have helped to inspire probation reforms across the United States.  The Swift, Certain, Fair approach reduces drug use, recidivism, and crime by employing brief, consistently applied sanctions for every probation violation.  Treatment is provided to those who request it.  An independent evaluation of the HOPE program found that participants – primarily methamphetamine users – were 55 percent less likely to be arrested for a new crime; 72 percent less likely to use drugs; 61 percent less likely to skip appointments with their supervisory officer; and 53 percent less likely to have their probation revoked.[1]

As the international community prepares for the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on drugs in April 2016, the United States will advocate wider adoptions of vital reforms such as these around the world.

More information about medication-assisted treatment and alternatives to incarceration is available at http://www.dpt.samhsa.gov, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, and the SwiftCertainFair Resource Center.

 

Director Botticelli with drug court graduate Donovan Simmons.

Donovan Simmons was the type of person many judges might have written off. He had pled guilty to a series of criminal charges, including burglary, and had been sentenced to five years in prison.

But Judge David Tapp of Somerset, Kentucky, refused to write Donovan off.

Like many people who come into contact with the criminal justice system, Donovan had a long history of substance use disorders. He struggled with serious marijuana and opioid use disorders, which began as he tried to cope with childhood trauma. Donovan was ill and needed medical treatment, not jail.

For decades, science has shown that addiction is a chronic brain disease—not a moral failing on the part of an individual. So treating the disease can give people caught up in the criminal justice system a chance to break free from the cycle of drug use, crime, arrest and imprisonment.

On March 10, 2011, Donovan got that chance when he entered Judge Tapp’s drug court. Drug court is an evidence-based alternative to incarceration for people with substance use disorders. Instead of a jail or prison sentence, drug court offers the opportunity for individuals to receive treatment in a structured environment with the support of a team of judges, attorneys, corrections officers, and treatment professionals. Usually, the drug court program requires a minimum of one year of participation and culminates in a graduation ceremony for successful participants.

When Donovan started drug court, he was dependent on family members for transportation, but he committed to regularly scheduled court appearances and meetings with Judge Tapp. Donovan’s recovery wasn’t easy, but he was determined to make progress, and progress came.

In early 2012, Donovan was hired as a property manager and anticipating graduating from drug court, but then he suffered a relapse.  Addiction is a chronic disease—just like heart disease or diabetes—and relapse is part of the journey to recovery for many people. Donovan didn’t give up on himself, and neither did Judge Tapp. He began drug court again, and in May 2014, he graduated.

Since then, Donovan has thrived, while maintaining his recovery and remaining arrest-free. He is still employed as an apartment manager, has launched his own small business, received custody of his children, and has pursued a computer technician certification from the Somerset Community College.

I met Donovan when I spoke at a drug court graduation in Kentucky this month. His story is just one of thousands of successful drug court graduates all across the country—people who seized the chance to change their lives for the better when they were given the opportunity. For years, our nation’s drug courts have made the case for the effectiveness of alternatives to incarceration for people with substance use disorders.

This month, we join our partners at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals to honor the accomplishments of drug court graduates like Donovan and thank the many drug court professionals for their commitment to second chances. 

Michael Botticelli is Director of National Drug Control Policy

Yesterday, the President traveled to Camden, New Jersey, a city that’s taken steps to create economic opportunity, help police do their jobs more safely, and reduce crime in the process. Yet another area where the Camden County Police Department is taking the right steps is with its creation of an overdose prevention program.  This program has reversed 68 overdoses since it started a year ago. Across New Jersey, law enforcement officers have used naloxone to respond to overdoses 888 times since 2014.

By engaging with law enforcement in naloxone administration, we are truly pursuing a 21st century approach to drug policy and community policing--one that combines public health with public safety.

Recently I met Corporal Nicholas Tackett, a police officer from Anne Arundel County in Maryland. Corporal Tackett has witnessed about 50 drug-related overdoses in his law enforcement career.

He knows the signs of overdose, the looks on their faces. Now, with naloxone, he has a tool that enables him to save lives. Corporal Tackett brought me to the locations where his use of naloxone reversed the life-threatening overdoses of two people. Naloxone works, and it is an incredibly important tool.

In October 2014, the Department of Justice released a Naloxone Toolkit for law enforcement. This toolkit is an online clearinghouse of more than 80 resources, such as sample policies and training materials designed to support law enforcement agencies in establishing a naloxone program. 

In the past year, we have witnessed an exponential expansion in the number of police departments that are training and equipping their police officers with naloxone.  They now number in the hundreds and they are saving lives.

The Police Department in Quincy, Massachusetts, has partnered with the State health department to train and equip police officers to resuscitate overdose victims using naloxone. The Department reports that since October 2010, officers in Quincy have administered naloxone in more than 382 overdose events, resulting in 360 successful overdose reversals.

The Vermont Department of Health has been distributing Overdose Rescue Kits with naloxone to State police as well as to individuals through community-based partners. To date, naloxone has been deployed 146 times across the State.

There is also collaboration taking place in rural and suburban communities. In Illinois, the Lake County State’s Attorney has partnered with various county agencies, including the Lake County Health Department; drug courts; police and fire departments; health, advocacy and prevention organizations; and local pharmacies to develop and implement an opioid overdose prevention plan.  As of February 2015, the Lake County Health Department had trained 828 police officers and 200 sheriff’s deputies to carry and administer naloxone, and more departments have requested this training.

To build on these efforts, the President’s FY 2016 Budget directs the Department of Health and Human Services to permit the use of block grant funds for naloxone purchases. It also provides funding specifically for law enforcement to purchase naloxone.

Where you live shouldn’t determine whether or not you survive an overdose. So our goal is to get naloxone in every community where overdose deaths are prevalent. Combined with evidence-based prevention programs and access to effective treatment, this approach will save the lives of many Americans.

Michael Botticelli is Director of National Drug Control Policy. 

As part of National Police Week, Director Botticelli read the names of three fallen officers at the 27^th Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Today, he will join President Obama at the 34^th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol.

Law enforcement officers have a profound sense of duty to serve and protect their communities.  Every day, they place their lives on the line knowing they could be exposed to harm at any moment.  ONDCP honors all the brave men and women who have died to protect the safety of others. 

During Police Week, we also particularly recognize officers on High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Forces who, despite the risks, remained steadfast and gave their lives in the line of duty, including Ogden Police Officer Jared D. Francom, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Deputy Sheriff Jerry Ortiz, Glendora Police Detective Louis Pompei , FBI Special Agent Paul M. Sorce and Maryland State Police Corporal Edward M. Toatley.

We owe all those who we have lost, and the men and women keeping us safe today, our deepest gratitude for protecting our families, homes and communities. 

Taylor Smith (right) with her sister, Gabrielle Smith.

Taylor died of an overdose.

Her mother, Tanya Smith, writes: 

"Taylor was a freshman, junior varsity and varsity squad basketball and football cheerleader at Creekview High School; known for her quick wit and infectious squeaky laugh, she was an avid animal rescuer, and quickly came to the defense of those she felt were treated unfairly. She was 20 years old when she overdosed in the company of friends, who subsequently dumped her body in the yard of an abandoned trailer to avoid arrest for drug possession.”

Taylor might still be alive if her friends had known that Georgia, along with 21 other states and the District of Columbia, has legal protections in place that shield people possessing drugs from criminal liability if they’re helping someone having an overdose. 

Her mother Tanya has channeled her grief into action, pushing to make sure that law enforcement officers in her town now carry naloxone — the antidote for opioid overdose. 

America is in the midst of an epidemic. In 2010, drug poisoning deaths surpassed traffic crashes as the most lethal cause of preventable injury and the number of deaths continues to climb. In recent years, health care providers have written 259 million prescriptions for painkillers — enough to give every American adult his or her own bottle of pills. That enormous quantity of pills translates into an enormous opportunity for misuse. In fact, most people who begin misusing prescription drugs get them from family or friends — and within five years, some move from misusing prescription opioids to using heroin.

We must act now. We have already lost too many daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, friends, and neighbors. Earlier this month, leaders in public health, government, law enforcement, the medical community, parents and advocates convened in Atlanta for the 2015 National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, organized by Congressman Hal Rogers and Operation UNITE, which is dedicated to stopping prescription drug abuse. They came to Atlanta because of stories such as Taylor’s. The importance of their efforts was emphasized by President Obama who sent a message of support:

President Obama to #RxSummit: "We must...reduce prescription drug abuse, expand treatment, and decrease...overdose." pic.twitter.com/aYdaU8eXiD

— U.S. Drug Policy (@ONDCP) April 7, 2015

In 2011, the Administration released the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan. Since then, along with our stakeholders and federal partners, we have made substantial progress working with prescribers, monitoring drug interactions through databases in 49 states, and implementing safe drug disposal programs and Smart on Crime enforcement. We have seen that progress is possible — the key is to focus on what’s working, and take it to scale nationally.

Working together, we can continue to increase the use of naloxone to reverse overdoses, encourage people witnessing an overdose to take action, and make sure anyone who needs treatment for a substance use disorder can get it. The President’s FY 2016 budget proposes $133 million of new investments aimed at combating the opioid epidemic, including expanding and enhancing medication-assisted treatment programs. The Administration also has expanded access to insurance coverage for substance use disorders and advanced protections to help ensure that substance use disorder benefits are covered at parity with medical and surgical benefits.

While recent data show that overdose from prescription opioids is leveling off, we know the opioid epidemic is far from over. CDC reported the number of deaths related to heroin overdose nearly tripled from 2010 to 2013.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners in the Department of Health and Human Services are joining forces with parents like Tanya Smith across the country in fighting this epidemic.

By sharing stories like Taylor’s, we reveal the human cost on individuals, families, and communities. These stories of tragic loss can lead to recovery and hope when people are moved to learn more and do more.

That’s why CDC launched a digital campaign, When the Prescription Becomes the Problem, this month to raise awareness about the epidemic and its impact. Taylor’s mother is honoring her daughter by ensuring greater protection for others at risk of an overdose. We can do the same for those in our lives who have been affected by this epidemic.

You can share your story in six words on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, using the hashtag #RxProblem. We helped kicked off the campaign at the National Rx Abuse Summit:

“We don’t have time to wait!” - @Botticelli44, during remarks on the #RxProblem at @RXSummit in Atlanta today. pic.twitter.com/WVuO6KHI4R

— U.S. Drug Policy (@ONDCP) April 7, 2015

You can also download free social media materials and learn more about the epidemic and our shared responsibility to stop it.

Two years ago, Kelley was in a dark place. His marriage was failing, and he found himself routinely drinking to excess, alone. He was hesitant to admit his alcohol problem to his Coast Guard colleagues because he worried that admitting he had an alcohol use disorder would damage his reputation or force him out of his job.

After his decade-long struggle with alcohol culminated in one awful night, Kelley finally opened up about his substance use disorder and sought help within the Coast Guard community. He was amazed by the response: His friends and peers rallied around him and helped him into treatment. His biggest fear had been getting kicked out of the Coast Guard, but the opposite happened. He found that the Coast Guard has a compassionate, evidence-based response to service members in need of treatment for substance use disorders.

In November 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters established a 12-step support group that helps ensure that service men and women struggling with substance use disorders don’t have to feel isolated when seeking treatment.

Director Botticelli sat down in March with Rear Admiral Maura Dollymore, the Coast Guard’s Director of Health, Safety and Work-Life, and other senior staff for a Coast Guard Prevention and Treatment roundtable discussion. At the meeting, Coast Guard leadership talked about the newly formed support group that helps service members like Kelley through treatment, and Director Botticelli offered his support for the Coast Guard’s prevention and treatment initiatives.

Watch Patrick Kelley’s story, and share it with someone you know: 

Although House of Cards is known mostly for its political drama and manipulative characters, season three’s story line about character Doug Stamper has highlighted the importance of prescriber education and the realities of relapse during recovery.

After Doug’s six-month hospitalization to rehabilitate his leg, his doctor prescribes medication to address his anxiety and depression. She tells Doug she cannot prescribe him painkillers because of his history with alcohol use disorder. Yet after he falls and breaks his arm in the shower, an emergency room doctor prescribes Percocet, a mix of oxycodone and acetaminophen. Although Doug had been in recovery and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for 14 years, the prescription triggers a relapse.  Initially regulating the amount of alcohol he drinks with a syringe, Doug eventually begins drinking uncontrollably until he meets with President Frank Underwood while intoxicated and asks for help. With the help of his brother, Doug is able to get sober again and become the President’s Chief of Staff.

In recent years, the number of filled opioid prescriptions has increased dramatically. Although opioid pain relievers are among the most powerful medications available and can effectively relieve suffering for many patients, they also present grave potential for misuse.

The first and most crucial step for the prevention of opioid misuse is to educate drug prescribers and dispensers. Practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists have a role to play in reducing prescription drug misuse. Unfortunately, prescribers receive little training in the risks associated with dispensing opioid pain relievers, especially for persons in recovery.

The physician who treated Doug’s leg was familiar with her patient’s medical history. She knew an opioid prescription would be detrimental to his journey in long-term recovery. Meanwhile, the emergency-room doctor, who met with Doug only briefly, prescribed a highly addictive painkiller without first asking if Doug had any history of substance use or disorder. As we learn from House of Cards, it is essential that prescribers receive training regarding the substance use history of patients to prevent triggering a relapse for those in recovery.

It is important to note, however, that Doug’s relapse was not out of the ordinary. A substance use disorder is a chronic disease, which means that for many in recovery, relapse is not only possible, but likely. Relapse rates for substance use disorders are between 40 and 60 percent—similar to those for other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Just like these other conditions, substance use disorders do not discriminate: Anyone can possess the risk factors or fall into the cycle of misuse. Relapse is never a sign of failure for any patient; rather, it is a speed bump on the road to recovery. It is essential that prescribers receive training to aid in the recovery process and make this journey as smooth as possible.

Doug Stamper is a fictional character in a dramatized television show, but his story of recovery and relapse is far from fictional. House of Cards illustrates how imperative it is for prescribers to know their patients’ histories before prescribing opioids. Doug’s story serves as a reminder to the friends and families of persons in long-term recovery that relapse of a substance-use disorder is as much a reality as it would be for any chronic medical condition, but that with their love and support, recovery is completely attainable.

“A global consensus is emerging that no nation can solve its drug problem by simply arresting and incarcerating those affected by a substance use disorder,” said Director of National Drug Control Policy Michael Botticelli, who represented the United States at the CND. “The United States is strongly committed to advancing strategies that bring justice and health agencies together on innovative solutions for drug-involved individuals wherever they are in the world.”

The United States introduced the resolution, which emphasizes that too many individuals with substance use disorders around the world are serving extended prison sentences, but not receiving evidence-based treatment or other needed health services. Increasing the use of alternatives to incarceration and the provision of treatment for these individuals, whether in the community or in prison, supports sustained recovery from substance use disorders, promotes fairness, and reduces prison overcrowding.

The resolution encourages all countries to utilize a range of alternatives to incarceration and other criminal justice reforms that also promote treatment for substance use disorders.  The health-related interventions referenced in the resolution include screening for substance use disorders, access to treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, counselling services and other behavioral health services, overdose prevention and treatment, recovery support services, treatment for HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases and mental health disorders. The alternatives to incarceration and other reforms listed include reduced or suspended sentences, diversion programs before or during trial, home detention, community service, fines, victim restitution, random drug testing, and GPS tracking.

Effective combinations of supervision and drug treatment, which are a subject of ongoing research in the United States, can result in more effective crime reduction, better health outcomes and lower prison costs. These alternatives can also allow incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders to return to their families and communities, while concurrently receiving treatment and helping to break the cycle of drug use, arrest, incarceration, relapse and re-arrest.

The resolution, specifically called for the following:

• Greater collaboration between health and justice agencies on alternatives to incarceration;
• Establishment of mechanisms to “break down the silos” between health and justice agencies so they can work together better to provide health services for those under criminal justice supervision;
• Training for justice officials on the effectiveness and importance of evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders;
• Recommendation that governments review their drug sentencing practices to ensure that they allow for alternatives to incarceration for those affected by a substance use disorder; 
• Collection and sharing of best practices and research on collaborations between justice and health agencies on alternatives to incarceration for those with a substance use disorder;

The full title of the resolution is: Supporting the Collaboration of Public Health and Justice Authorities in Providing Alternatives to Conviction or Punishment for Drug-Related Offenses of a Minor Nature. The following countries co-sponsored the resolution: Australia, Ecuador, El Salvador,  European Union, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,  Israel, Lithuania, Mexico, Namibia, and Uruguay.

Fortunately for Alex, Nora’s health insurance – thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – allowed him the opportunity to receive addiction treatment and care under her policy until age 26. After that, he can obtain insurance on his own that will cover his treatment needs. The ACA requires insurers to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level they’d cover any other medical treatment. Without the care he received, Alex may not have entered recovery and gotten back on track at school, building the life he and his mom had hoped for.

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law, we celebrate that millions more people have health insurance than before. And that’s not all there is to celebrate. The ACA establishes the biggest expansion of mental health and substance use disorder coverage in a generation. It requires insurers to provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits at parity with coverage for any other medical condition, like diabetes or heart diseases. In total, this expansion creates new opportunities for substance use disorder and mental health care for more than 60 million Americans.[i]

Research highlights an increase in utilization of inpatient care for mental health and substance use disorder services among young adults between 2010 and 2012, according to the Health Care Cost Institute.[i]

The Affordable Care Act offers a profound change for those who suffer from substance use disorders – one that has proven time and time again to save lives. Millions of Americans, like Nora and Alex, have had a burden lifted by having options and access to quality care.

The Obama Administration is committed to restoring a balance to U.S. drug-control efforts by focusing on public health to reduce drug use and its consequences. By decreasing the number of uninsured Americans and cutting costs, the Affordable Care Act plays a crucial role in connecting Americans to the resources they need.

We’ve made great progress: after five years of the Affordable Care Act, 16 million people have gained health coverage.

That’s something to cheer about. So on this anniversary, let’s celebrate opportunity and progress – for our loved ones, for our communities, and for our nation.

Such was the case when Betty Ford revealed her breast cancer diagnosis and her substance use disorder. Such was the case when Magic Johnson revealed that he was HIV positive, spurring action to stem the AIDS epidemic.

Yet, despite the fact that nearly every family and community in America is affected by a substance use disorder, those fighting to overcome this disease are too often hidden in the shadows of shame and denial.  It is whispered about. It is met with derision and scorn. 

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only 1 in 9 people with a diagnosable substance use disorder gets treatment.  Compare this to the treatment rate for diabetes, for which 72% of people with the disease receive care.

When treatment is provided for substance use disorders, it too often comes at the most acute stages of the disease when effective treatment is far more challenging and costly than in the early stages. Because substance use disorders have historically gone unidentified for far too long, and timely access to treatment has been far too difficult to come by, a person is expected to hit “rock bottom” before seeking help for a substance use disorder.

Standard medical care does not allow a diabetic to enter kidney failure before offering insulin.  Yet untreated substance use disorders routinely proceed unchecked until they have reached such levels of emergency.  In addition to the unnecessary suffering for patients and their families, our current approach costs the United States hundreds of billions a year in increased health care costs, crime and lost productivity-- over $223 billion related to alcohol and $193 billion related to illicit drugs.

Decades of scientific research have proven that substance use disorders are a health issue:  chronic medical conditions with genetic, biological and environmental risk factors.  Effective substance use disorders requires a comprehensive, public health approach involving evidence-based prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery support services.  The National Drug Control Strategy, the Obama Administration’s template for drug policy, outlines more than 100 action items across federal government to prevent drug use and its consequences.

Earlier this month, President Obama in his 2016 Budget requested historic levels of funding --including $133 million in new funds-- to address the opioid misuse epidemic in the U.S. Using a public health framework as its foundation, our strategy also acknowledges the vital role that federal state and local law enforcement play in reducing the availability of drugs—another risk factor for drug use.  It underscores the vital importance of primary prevention in stopping drug use before it ever begins by funding prevention efforts across the country. It sets forth an agenda aimed at stripping away the systemic challenges that have accumulated like plaque over the decades: over-criminalization, lack of integration with mainstream medical care, insurance coverage and the legal barriers that make it difficult for people once involved with the criminal justice system to rebuild their lives.

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act will dramatically increase coverage for treatment and ensures that services are comparable to other chronic conditions for more than 60 million Americans. This is the biggest expansion of substance use disorder treatment in a generation, and it will transform millions of lives.

All of these advancements, however, are not enough unless we fundamentally change the way we think about people with addiction.  There are millions of people in recovery in the United States leading meaningful, productive lives full of joy and love and laughter – and I am one of them.

Tonight, the United States Senate voted to confirm my nomination as Director of National Drug Control Policy. This is an honor I never dreamed of 26 years ago, when my substance use disorder had become so acute that I was handcuffed to a hospital bed. I accept this challenge with the humility and tenacity of someone in long term recovery.

I am open about my recovery not to be self-congratulatory, I am open about my recovery to change public policy. I have dedicated my life to treating drug use as a public health issue, and that’s how I approach this new role, as well.  I hope that many more of the millions of Americans in recovery like me will also choose to “come out” and to fight to be treated like anyone else with a chronic disease. By putting faces and voices to the disease of addiction and the promise of recovery, we can lift the curtain of conventional wisdom that continues to keep too many of us hidden and without access to lifesaving treatment.

It is time to make a simple, yet courageous decision to be counted, to be seen and to be heard.

Share your story with us today. 

Michael Botticelli serves as Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy. Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm him as Director of National Drug Control Policy. 

In response to America’s drug problem, the 2016 Budget reflects the Administration’s ongoing commitment to reducing drug use and its consequences through a balanced approach rooted in science.

The President’s 2016 Budget, submitted to Congress today, contains over $12 billion in Federal funds -- an increase of more than $768 million over FY 2015 – for drug demand reduction programs essential to making our Nation a healthier and safer place. The $1.4 billion funding request for prevention activities increased nearly six percent over the 2015 funding level, and the $11 billion requested for treatment represents a nearly seven percent increase. Together, these funding requests amount to the largest commitment to treating and preventing substance use disorders to date.  

Consistent with the Administration’s balanced approach to public health and public safety, the Budget also calls for increases for supply reduction programs that disrupt the flow of illicit drugs into our country and reduce drug trafficking domestically.  This includes$9.7 billion for domestic law enforcement activities, a nearly four percent increase over the FY 2015 funding level; $3.9 billion for interdiction, an increase of two percent; and $1.6 billion for international funding, an increase of more than one percent. 

The Budget requests $85.7 million for the Drug Free Communities program, a local, community-based coalition program supporting nearly 700 local drug prevention groups, and $193.4 million to facilitate greater collaboration across federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs) Program.

Reducing drug use and its harms is a complex challenge that requires coordination between a broad array of government agencies at the federal, state and local level, community advocates, non-profits and civil society organizations. The President’s 2016 Budget underscores this Administration’s commitment to a balanced approach that treats drug use as a public health issue and directs valuable law enforcement resources to combating serious public safety threats.

• Get the fact sheet
• Read the release
• See the full budget highlights 

The destructive influence of drugs and crime that threaten our communities require a holistic approach and dedication – and this means coming together to help those in need who suffer from addiction, to help prevent youth from ever using, and to stand opposed to those who traffic these dangerous substances. This is not a unique challenge to New Mexico, but one that cities and towns across America confront. In my district, one of the organizations that has been successful in getting results has been the Taos Alive Coalition, and one of the things that has aided them in their missions has been the grant they received from the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.

The Taos Alive Coalition came together when a collaboration of the Taos and regional programs applied for funding through the Drug-Free Communities Support Program in 2010. In the past five years Taos Alive has worked on numerous fronts, including prescription drugs, alcohol, and synthetic drugs. Its prescription drug initiative has been one of the most successful initiatives to date – establishing the permanent drop boxes in our community and successfully assisting with bi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back events. Before the Taos Alive Coalition formed with DFC funding, Take Back Taos County collected less than 3 pounds of drugs. With the involvement of Taos Alive, they estimate that more than 65 pounds was collected. Further, Taos Alive—whose members include medical professionals from government and private practice--created opioid prescribing guidelines in the local emergency room and is working on community opioid prescribing guidelines. Youth media prescription drug training is given to all Taos High School youth & school staff in Taos County; and they have helped several schools to create prescription drug policy & procedures.

Through these community efforts, Taos Alive is improving its community and making it a safer place to live. And it is able to do this so effectively, in part, because of the Drug-Free Communities Grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Since the passage of the DFC Act in 1997, the DFC Program has funded more than 2,000 coalitions and currently mobilizes nearly 9,000 community volunteers across the country. Grantees establish and strengthen collaboration among communities – public and private non-profit agencies – as well as Federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance abuse among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.

The FY 2015 DFC Request for Applications (RFA) has been released and is available online. In recognition of how transformative these grants are, and to assist community groups with the application process, ONDCP is hosting workshops on the technical aspects of filling out grant applications. While these workshops are not mandatory, they will offer guidance on the process that many groups that are less experienced filling out grant applications may find useful. Workshops will be held on:

A videotaped version of this workshop is also available on the ONDCP website. Register for the workshops and find information about the Drug Free Communities Program.

I’m proud of the work I have seen from the DFC grantees in my district, and know that they are succeeding around the country. A DFC grant is one way for communities to come together to fight back against the influence of substance abuse and addiction. Commitment and collaboration are essential tools for change, and working together we can help our family, friends, and towns heal and thrive.

Congressman Ben Ray Luján represents New Mexico's Third Congressional District. 

Tomorrow, we will explore how the Affordable Care Act is changing the way substance use disorders are treated in America.           

On Wednesday, January 21 at 2:30 p.m. EST, we will convene experts from the substance use disorder treatment and recovery fields for a meeting titled “Treating Substance Use Disorders Today: Access, Recovery, and the Affordable Care Act”. 

Watch this meeting live starting at 2:30 p.m. EST on whitehouse.gov/live.

During this meeting, which will be co-hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), we will hear from a panel of experts and from real people who are able to access treatment and recovery support services for themselves or family members.

If you can’t join us in person, we invite you to host a viewing party. You can register your viewing party here. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by including #ACA4Recovery in your tweets all day tomorrow.

Learn more about what the Affordable Care Act means for behavioral health with this infographic from our partners at SAMHSA:

SAMHSA Enrollment and Outreach Resources

By delivering on this important recommendation, the Obama Administration, in an effort spearheaded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, seeks to substantially reduce the threat posed by drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and associated violence to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In its 2011 report to the President, the Task Force concluded that both the capacity of local law enforcement and the efforts of the Federal agencies charged with public safety in Puerto Rico require a significant amount of attention from Federal and local stakeholders.

Strengthening Public Safety

Public safety is a major challenge in Puerto Rico.  During the Task Force’s public hearings, residents of Puerto Rico raised concerns about crime and the law enforcement response. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is alarmingly high. Puerto Rico’s geographic location, with approximately 300 miles of unprotected shoreline, makes it especially vulnerable to transnational crime. Located along the Mona Passage, a heavily used shipping lane between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the region has become an increasingly important point for drug trafficking between South America and the continental United States and Europe.

Drug traffickers have long used this region as a transshipment point.  Recently however, the nature of the trafficking has changed.  Due to stepped-up law enforcement efforts, drug traffickers have decreased air activity and increased maritime shipping.  There has also been an increase in detected maritime transport of cocaine loads to the Puerto Rico area.  According to the Puerto Rico Police Department, high homicide rates can be attributed to power struggles and turf wars among violent gangs and drug trafficking organizations whose members compete to supply the demand for both illegal and diverted legal drugs.  These groups frequently use intimidation, violence, and murder to gain and retain control of retail drug markets.

Cocaine is the principal drug threat and a source of associated violence throughout the Caribbean. The trafficking threat and violence is also associated with marijuana, heroin, and prescription drugs.  Illicit trafficking is a highly fluid enterprise.  The documented cocaine flow from the source zone to the United States via the Caribbean—including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Eastern Caribbean countries—has more than doubled in the past three years, from 38 metric tons (MT) in 2011, to 59 MT in 2012 and 91 MT in 2013, according to the interagency Consolidated Counterdrug Database. This marks the highest documented cocaine flow since 2003.

Unlawful firearms trafficking also poses a threat to public safety and contributes to the high homicide rate and drug-related violence.   The danger posed to children by the drug trade and gang violence continues to increase.  Criminal incidents that frequently occur in the school system include violence, vandalism, and property theft.  As drug trafficking activities increase in the region, so do related financial crimes.  Trafficking organizations have displayed limited sophistication in money laundering.   Rudimentary schemes to use the drug proceeds, either laundered through the financial system or transported to foreign locations, have been used in bulk-cash smuggling operations.  These conditions create an environment conducive to a broad range of corruption activities.  

In light of these challenges, the Task Force recommended that the various Federal agencies with security and law enforcement responsibilities convene a formal, interagency process of coordination and collaboration regarding Puerto Rico’s security and safety.  Improvements in public safety would benefit the people of Puerto Rico and help in the broader effort to combat drug trafficking throughout the region.

Federal Response to Date

Cooperative partnerships, expanded bilateral agreements, and training programs are essential force-multipliers that help counter the transnational drug threat.  Federal agencies must continue to leverage established partnerships among themselves and with local law enforcement agencies to capitalize on the unique authorities and capabilities of each organization.  Building and improving bilateral and multilateral partnerships through law enforcement agreements, professional exchanges, training, and joint operations is essential to reducing illicit drug flow through the region.

In response to increases in drug trafficking and related crime, Federal law enforcement agencies have expanded their efforts in the region.  The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have devoted resources to address drug-related violent crime on the islands and have coordinated with Federal and local partners to confront this ongoing threat to public safety. 

2015 Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy

Today’s announcement demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthen Puerto Rico’s public safety.  The 2015 Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy (Caribbean Strategy) articulates the U.S. framework for reducing the threats associated with drugs at the border and is guided by the following strategic objectives:

Strategic Objectives

1. Enhance intelligence and information-sharing capabilities and processes associated with the Caribbean border.
2. Interdict illicit drugs and drug proceeds at and between U.S. ports of entry in the Caribbean.
3. Interdict illicit drugs and illicit drug proceeds in the air and maritime domains in and around the Caribbean border; maximize evidence and intelligence collection to support criminal investigations leading to associated and higher echelon networks.
4. Disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in and around the Caribbean border.
5. Substantially reduce the level of drug related violent crime in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
6. Strengthen communities and reduce the demand for drugs.

The Caribbean Strategy outlines supporting actions and identifies the Federal agencies responsible for coordinating and executing these actions.  To ensure effective implementation, the Caribbean Strategy provides indicators to develop baselines and enable status tracking.

This Caribbean Strategy is aligned with the Task Force recommendation, and it complies with the report language accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76) (Appropriations Act), initiated by Puerto Rico’s congressional representative, Congressman Pedro Pierluisi, which requires that the Office of National Drug Control Policy submit to Congress a biennial Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy.

Here are highlights from 2014:

January

Attorney General Eric Holder speaks in support of the bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act, which would give judges more discretion in determining appropriate sentences for people convicted of certain federal drug crimes, and provide a new mechanism for some individuals – who were sentenced under outdated laws and guidelines – to petition judges for sentencing reductions that are consistent with the Fair Sentencing Act.

February

Mexican authorities announce the capture of Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman Loera, the alleged head of a drug-running empire that spans continents.  The criminal activity Guzman allegedly directed contributed to the death and destruction of millions of lives across the globe through drug addiction, violence, and corruption. The operation led by the Mexican government is a significant victory and milestone in U.S.-Mexican efforts to combat drug trafficking, violence and illicit activity along our shared border.

March

The UN officially endorses recovery. A resolution on the importance of recovery proposed by the United States at the 57^th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was approved on March 21^st in Vienna, Austria.  This resolution marks the first time in the more than 50-year history of the global anti-drug regime that the concept of recovery was formally accepted and supported by United Nations Member States.

April 

The 2014 Advocates for Action come to The White House to meet with Acting Director Botticelli and discuss their work and advocacy on drug policy. Meet them and hear their stories:

May 

Acting Director Botticelli speaks at the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission in Washington, D.C. The 34 Member Nations from the Organization of American States gathered to discuss an array of public health and drug policy issues, including drug courts and other alternatives to incarceration and the growing challenge of local distribution of drugs within Latin America. Acting Director Botticelli discusses the disease of addiction, the expanding access to drug treatment under the Affordable Care Act, and Federal monitoring of state marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington. 

June

In response to rising rates of heroin use and related overdose deaths, ONDCP hosts the Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Summit at The White House, where Acting Director Botticelli, Attorney General Holder and Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin rally around our shared goal of dramatically reducing the rate of heroin and prescription drug abuse across the country.

July

ONDCP releases our 2014 National Drug Control Strategy at a substance abuse treatment center in Roanoke, Virginia, where Acting Director Botticelli also tours the Hurt Park neighborhood, which was the site of a successful alternative policing program called Drug Market Intervention. The same day, Acting Director Botticelli meets with a community social services center called Total Action For Progress, which supports young people and others in recovery and connects them with employment.

August

President Obama announces his intent to nominate Michael Botticelli as Director of National Drug Control Policy. If confirmed, he will become the first person in recovery from a substance use disorder to hold this position.

September

The White House hosts Recovery Month event.  NFL legend Cris Carter; Christina Huffington; veteran reporter and author Ruben Castaneda; Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Mayor Tim Wilson; and television news anchor Laurie Dhue speak to a packed auditorium at The White House about their recovery experiences, and where the recovery movement is going in the future.

October

ONDCP announces the addition of 26 counties and cities in 11 states to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, which facilitates collaboration between state, local and federal law enforcement. ONDCP also announces $84 million in Drug-Free Communities Support Program grants for 680 community coalitions across the country.

November

ONDCP and the Drug Enforcement Administration educate community agencies about implementing drug disposal programs. In 2014, the Administration issued new regulations to create convenient, legal avenues for safe, environmentally-friendly disposal of unneeded prescription drugs. This is one of the four pillars outlined in the 2011 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan, and is critical to curbing the national opioid epidemic. Thanks to the new regulations, individuals will have more convenient and environmentally responsible means to dispose of unused prescription drugs.

December

President Obama declares December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Throughout this month, ONDCP is working with the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to raise awareness of drugged driving and encourage communities to engage in prevention activities. 

Download the PDF. An explanation of the graphic is below. 

UPDATE (As of November 2014):

Twenty-three states (CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI) have statutes which allow for “third-party” prescriptions of naloxone i.e. the prescription can be written to friend, relative or person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose.  Virginia only allows third-party prescriptions through a provisional pilot program.  Three additional states (IN, LA, MO) allow prescriptions of naloxone to qualified first responders (e.g. law enforcement, EMT, firefighter).  One additional state (DE) allows prescriptions of naloxone to peace officers who have received training.

Fifteen states (CA, CO, CT, GA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NC, OH, PA, TN, UT, VT, WI) have statutes which protect prescribers from civil liability actions. 

Eighteen states (CA, CO, CT, GA, IN, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, UT, VT, WI) have statutes which protect prescribers from criminal liability actions.

Twenty states (CA, CO, CT, GA, KY, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, UT, VT, VA, WI) and the District of Columbia have statutes which protect lay persons from civil liability for administering naloxone to someone believed to be experiencing an opioid induced overdose. In Virginia, this protection only applies to persons that are participating in the provisional pilot program.  Two additional states (IN, LA) provide civil liability protections to first responders.  One additional state (DE) provides civil liability protections to peace officers who have received training.

Twenty-four states (CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI) and the District of Columbia have statutes which protect lay persons from criminal liability for administering naloxone to someone believed to be experiencing an opioid induced overdose.  In Virginia, this protection applies to persons that are participating in the provisional pilot program.  Three additional states (IN, LA, MO) provide criminal liability protections to first responders.  One additional state (DE) provides criminal liability protections to peace officers who have received training.

Twenty-one states (AK, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NM, NY, NC, PA, RI, VT, WA, WI) and the District of Columbia have statutes which prevent charge or prosecution for possession of a controlled substance and/or paraphernalia for persons who seek medical/emergency assistance for someone that is experiencing an opioid induced overdose.  Additionally, in UT and IN, evidence of providing assistance to someone experiencing an opioid overdose can be presented as a mitigating factor at sentencing to a conviction for possession of a controlled substance and/or paraphernalia.  UT allows evidence of providing assistance to someone experiencing an overdose to be used as an affirmative defense to an allegation of possession of a controlled substance and/or paraphernalia.

There is good news in the data announced today, which reflect declines in youth drug and alcohol use across the board.

Cigarette and alcohol use--and prescription pain relievers misuse—have all declined since 2013.  Marijuana use rates did not increase in 2014, and, among 10^th graders, both past-year and daily marijuana use declined by 8 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Past year use of synthetic marijuana, dangerous drugs that have cut the potential of far too many young people, is now down among 12^th graders from 11.4% in 2011 to 5.8% in 2014.Additionally, all measures of alcohol drinking (past-month, past-year, lifetime, daily, and 5 or more drinks in a row in the last 2 weeks) were significantly lower than 5 years ago, and all levels are at an all-time low since 1991. 

The Obama administration remains steadfast in its commitment to reduce drug use and its consequences—and we know that the best way to reduce drug use is to prevent it from ever starting. We join our partners at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in encouraging parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors to have a conversation with a young person in their lives about making the healthy decisions that will keep them on a path toward a successful future. View valuable resources on starting the conversation here.

Monitoring the Future is one of three major survey instruments the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses to monitor the nation’s substance use patterns among teens.  Information from these surveys informs strategic planning for prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for youth.  The Monitoring the Future survey produces timely results, with findings announced the same year the data is collected.

It is troubling that approximately 10 percent of seniors report having driven a vehicle after smoking marijuana in the two weeks prior to their interview.  That is a greater frequency than those who drove after drinking alcohol (7 percent). 

Earlier this month, President Obama raised awareness about the risks of drugged driving when he designated December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and we urge parents, partners and prevention advocates to spread the word: drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

To learn more about Monitoring the Future’s 2014 results, please read the press release, and join us at 1 p.m. EST for a Twitter chat with the National Institute on Drug Abuse to discuss the findings. Use the hashtag #MTF2014 to follow along and ask questions of the head of our research and data analysis office, Dr. Terry Zobeck. 

Conversations about impaired driving are nothing new for American families. The archetype of an innocent victim killed by a drunk driver is both an immediately recognizable story and an unfortunate reality for too many people.  While drunk driving has become a social taboo, there is less awareness about the dangers of driving after consuming drugs, which can carry the same lethal consequences as alcohol-impaired driving.  Drugged driving isn’t a new trend, but with current conversations regarding the legal status of certain substances, the Office of National Drug Control Policy seeks to increase awareness of the potentially tragic yet 100-percent avoidable consequences associated with drugged driving.  In the same way that Americans have banded together to prevent drunk driving over the past few decades, it’s time we also make the prevention of drugged driving a national priority.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers, 16 percent of weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for the presence of illicit drugs or medications with the ability to affect driving skills in 2007.  In the years since the survey was conducted, there has been an increase in both prescription and non-medical drug use that, at any level of consumption, may affect a driver’s perception, judgment, motor skills, and/or memory.  ONDCP is collaborating with the Department of Transportation and other Federal agencies to combat drugged and drunk driving to keep our roads safe.  In the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy, the Administration highlights a plan to reduce drugged driving by 10 percent by 2015, including encouraging states to enact per se (similar to zero tolerance) drugged driving laws, and to improve law enforcement efforts to identify drugged drivers. 

If the shift in social norms against drunk driving tells us anything, it’s that the voices of average Americans can make a difference.  With the help of Americans everywhere, we can send the message that drugged driving should not be tolerated any more than drunk driving—that we are dedicated to keeping our children safe.  This December, as we recognize National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, remember how important it is that we come together with a unified message:  Drugged driving is dangerous.

Michael Botticelli serves as Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. 

Watch the video: 

And yet, at the same time, this city that once experienced so much progress seemed to be regressing. Montgomery’s homicide rates were increasing, teenage parties were saturated by alcohol, and marijuana use was rampant in our teenage population.

It seemed that the pages of the history book I lived in were crumbling. New problems were emerging, and I felt helpless. I wanted to be an agent of change like the great historical giants who marched before me, but I had no idea how to begin.

All of that changed during the summer of 2011, when I had the privilege of attending National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI), a Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) substance abuse prevention training program that teaches teens like me how to take action to reduce drug use in their communities. The program did more than equip me with the tools to become an agent of change. It ignited something inside me. As Mark Twain said, the two most important days of our lives are the day we are born and the day we find out why. It seemed that ever since that first important day, I had struggled to figure out the “why” of my life. That summer in NYLI, after realizing I could make a difference in my home town, I experienced the second most important part of my life – my purpose.

As a young person new to the anti-drug movement, I learned that substance use prevention is not about seeing immediate change. It is about creating lasting change within our communities over time. I also learned that progress occurs only when courageous, skillful leaders seize opportunities and work for change. My NYLI experience gave me confidence to step out as never before – to speak without fear before my city council, county commissioners, and community leaders about how they could be part of a movement not only to get our community back to where it once had been, but to push it forward even further. Working with other young people from my coalition, I hosted events and youth forums to seek ways to tackle the problems that plagued our communities. With our shared vision and productive collaboration, we were able to bind the pages of history back together and begin a new chapter of change.

Now, as a sophomore at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, I contribute to the betterment of the community by working with the Nashville Prevention Partnership, a local substance use prevention coalition, to address underage drinking. The experience has shown me that anyone, even young people like myself, can help restore shattered communities and build structures of effective and lasting change.

Sheri Jones is a trainer with the National Youth Leadership Initiative, a program of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). 

The teens are participants in Promising Arts in Recovery (PAIR), part of Snohomish County’s local Reclaiming Futures program. The goal of PAIR is to establish social and job skills by connecting local artists with at-risk teens who are involved in the juvenile justice system and may be undergoing treatment for substance use or mental health issues. Through programs like PAIR that offer workshops, internships, or job-shadowing opportunities, local professionals are not only helping these young people develop skills necessary to be active citizens, they are helping to rebuild a community around prevention.

In recognition of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we reflect on the critical need for community involvement programs that create sustainable, long-term solutions to help prevent American teens from using drugs and alcohol. At Reclaiming Futures, a national model applied in 18 states to improve juvenile justice systems, we believe that community involvement helps create a culture of prevention.

The mission of Reclaiming Futures is to help teens trapped in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and crime by improving access to resources through collaboration among court services, treatment service providers, educators, families, and communities. We focus on getting teens more treatment and better treatment. But equally important is connecting them with activities beyond treatment that, like PAIR, establish behaviors to help them stay drug- and crime-free. It is this beyond treatment element that has the potential to propel a new community identity around prevention. These programs help to build a network of caring individuals invested in teens’ success. Once established, the programs have the ability to reach young people early to counter peer pressure and adverse childhood experiences that may lead to substance use.

Devoting resources to community-rooted solutions and conversation about prevention can help America’s youth connect with support systems that will aid in the success of their futures.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is also championing community-rooted solutions through its Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which enables local community coalitions across the country establish and strengthen collaboration with public and private agencies to amplify youth substance abuse prevention efforts.

Susan Richardson is national executive director for Reclaiming Futures. Formerly, she was a senior program officer in the health care division of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in North Carolina, where she led a three-year effort involving the state’s juvenile justice and treatment leaders to adopt the Reclaiming Futures model by juvenile courts in six North Carolina counties. 

At the heart of the DFC program is the philosophy that local problems require local solutions. DFC grantees involve a cross-section of the communities they serve, with active participation from youth, parents, schools, businesses, media, local government, law enforcement, and other local agencies. The DFC Program is the only Federal drug prevention program that provides funding directly to local communities.

Since 1998, ONDCP has awarded more than 2,000 DFC grants to local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Long-term analyses have shown that past-month use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana declined significantly from 2002 to 2012 among middle school and high school students in DFC communities.

Click here to learn more about the Drug-Free Communities Support Program.

For more information about National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, click here. 

The theme for this year’s observance is Prevent. Achieve. Succeed. We know that substance use can stand in the way of academic achievement and success. In addition, poor grades and disinterest in school increase the chances that a teen will use harmful substances. According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), youth ages 12 to 17 who have a “D” or lower grade average are two-to-three times more likely to use illicit drugs and cigarettes, compared to their peers who have a grade average better than “D.” [1]

On the other hand, there are many benefits of strong academic performance, including knowledge gained in class, competitive advantage for getting into college, and better job opportunities in the future. Youth who do well academically and have a sense of belonging in school are less likely to use substances.

In honor of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we urge you to do something to encourage a young person’s positive growth and development, directly or indirectly. For example, you might decide to hold a potluck with neighbors to share resources on how to talk with children about alcohol use and discuss how to support each other in doing so. Or, you may focus on building your family’s resilience by spending time with your kids, listening to them, and encouraging their interest in constructive activities and hobbies. (Start early—see SAMHSA’s Building Blocks for a Healthy Future for resources and materials to help children ages 3-6 make decisions, gain confidence, and improve self-esteem.)

You can also start thinking ahead to SAMHSA's National Prevention Week—May 17-23, 2015—a time when people across the country come together to make a positive difference in the health and well-being of their community.

No matter how you choose to take part, know that you’re contributing to a positive, nationwide effort—an effort that will continue after October 31^st. Prevention efforts never end, and with good reason. With each generation comes the collective responsibility to keep young people out of harm’s way; to educate them about healthy choices; and to build their decision-making skills so that when they come to a fork in the road, they choose the path to a healthy, happy, and successful life.

Please join David Mineta, the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Deputy Director of Demand Reduction, Ritankar Das, Chair of the Science & Engineering Festival (USASEF) Youth Advisory Board; Jack Andraka USASEF Youth Advisory Board Member, and young leaders from the National Youth Leadership Institute.

Far too many young people with bright futures are limited by drug use. By addressing this issue, we can educate our youth and prepare them to face the world’s challenges. By participating in the chat, you will learn useful tips on how to incorporate primary prevention into your community and the nexus between substance use and academic achievement. 

We look forward to hearing your questions and ideas about how we can make sure our kids are drug-free, ready to learn, and achieving academically.

Here are three simple steps you can take to join in:

1. Tweet your questions and replies using the hashtag #PrevMonth on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
2. Register for the Twitter chat on whitehouse.gov. 
3. Follow @ONDCP for updates.

The panel consisted of Cris Carter, a former NFL football player and current ESPN announcer in recovery; Christina Huffington, a young person in recovery; Ruben Castaneda, a Washington Post reporter and author of the book that chronicles his own journey to recovery, S Street Rising; and Tim Wilson, mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.  The panelists’ personal stories emphasized the fact that addiction is a disease—not a product of personal failings—and their accomplishments demonstrate the power of recovery in living a successful life.

“We are not bad people trying to get good—we are sick people trying to get well,” said moderator Laurie Dhue, opening the panel.  “We’re not in a basement somewhere.  We’re at the White House talking about addiction and recovery.”  Laurie’s poignant words served as a reminder of the power of candor and community, and bolstered the message that no one has to be alone when it comes to substance use disorders.

Three women from N Street Village, a community of empowerment and recovery for women, and Theatre Lab D.C. shared an inspirational performance about recovery.  “Not addicted to drugs—but addicted to life,” an evocative line during the trio’s amalgam of song and spoken-word poetry, highlighted the self-restoration that accompanies recovery.

Recovery Month, now in its 25^th year, celebrates prevention, treatment, and of course recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.   Recovery Month underscores the importance of mental health and addiction treatment services in promoting lives free of substance use disorders.  Through Recovery Month events, the Administration spreads the positive message that people can and do recover—recognizing the accomplishments of the millions of Americans currently in recovery, and encouraging those suffering with addiction to seek the treatment necessary for improving their own lives.

For more information on National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month, visit recoverymonth.gov or check out the Americans in Recovery Facebook page. You can watch archived video of the event here and see a Storify from the entire day.