DEA Receives Youth Crime Watch Award
Drug Prevention Efforts Recognized by International Organization

Washington D.C. – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Demand Reduction Program was presented with a Casey Award by Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) on Wednesday, March 22nd at the group’s national convention in Ogden, UT. The DEA was nominated in the Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention category, which recognizes agencies in the community that have demonstrated exemplary support for YCWA or youth crime prevention programming.

The mission of DEA’s Demand Reduction program is to enhance prevention programs across the nation by developing strategic alliances with prevention, treatment, community coalitions, federal, state and local governments in their efforts to reduce the demand for drugs. Through the Demand Reduction program, DEA shares drug law enforcement expertise and intelligence on the nature and extent of the national, regional and local drug threat and on emerging drug enforcement priorities. In conjunction with its prevention partners, DEA engages in aggressive public messaging campaigns to illustrate the consequences of drug use, particularly for non-users who suffer collateral damage as a result of the illegal drug trade. This past August, the Demand Reduction Program launched a new web site, www.justthinktwice.com to give teens the straight facts about the dangers of drugs.

The Casey Awards were established to recognize individuals and organizations that provide leadership and resources for youth-led crime prevention efforts. Youth Crime Watch of America was created in 1979 as an outgrowth of Citizen’s Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The organization went national in 1986 and has earned national recognition by several U.S. Presidents. In 1999, a charter organization was formed in Brazil.