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Bush Administration's Drug Control Budget Request Favors Supply Reduction

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 18:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bush Administration released its fiscal year (FY) 2007 request for federal drug control spending on February 6, 2006. Why the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) chooses to emphasize overseas programs and interdiction at time when the national drug problem reflects the increasing use of prescription drugs, marijuana, and methamphetamine is a mystery. The most recent Carnevale Associates LLC Policy Brief shows the administration's continuing shift from demand reduction to supply reduction programs focusing on interdiction and international efforts. ONDCP's choice to focus U.S. drug policy overseas and to stop drugs at the border is puzzling in light of a worsening domestic drug use situation. Prescription drugs and methamphetamine use have become epidemics. Furthermore, the complex problems created by methamphetamine labs, domestic drug trafficking and crime, and the lack of progress in closing the nation's treatment gap call into question the relevancy of ONDCP's FY 2007 budget request.

The request for FY 2007 is $12.7 billion compared with the FY 2006 enacted level of $12.5 billion. This represents an increase of $109 million (0.9 percent) over last year's level. The two largest initiatives totaling $304 million are for Customs and Border Protection to control illegal crossings ($152 million) and for the State Department to expand the Afghanistan opium poppy elimination program ($152 million). There are no major initiatives for demand reduction.

Congress requires ONDCP to report its budget request by the two general categories of supply reduction and demand reduction. Supply reduction programs, characterized by domestic law enforcement efforts, source country programs, and interdiction, attempt to stop or disrupt the flow of illicit drugs into the country, at its borders, or overseas. Demand reduction, consisting of drug treatment and prevention programs, seeks to discourage individuals from trying illicit substances or to encourage and assist existing drug users to stop. The FY 2007 drug control budget requests 35.5 percent for demand reduction and 64.5 percent for supply reduction.

According to Carnevale Associates LLC President, John Carnevale: "In light of data and recent ONDCP statements about growing domestic drug threats from prescription drug abuse and domestically produced methamphetamine and marijuana, it will be interesting to see if Congress agrees with the supply reduction course that ONDCP is charting."

Carnevale Associates LLC, is a public-policy consulting firm that provides a broad range of professional services to federal agencies, states, and local governments, as well as non-profit and private organizations. Carnevale Associates LLC provides strategic leadership to public and private organizations through its three practice groups: Strategic Planning; Research and Policy Analysis; and Integrated Communications. Carnevale Associates LLC Policy Briefs, including the FY 2007 Drug Budget Brief are available at: http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/publications.html

Media Contact: John Carnevale President, Carnevale Associates LLC 301-977-3600

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

Carnevale Associates LLC

CONTACT: John Carnevale, President of Carnevale Associates LLC,+1-301-977-3600

Web site: http://www.carnevaleassociates.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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