Office of State, Local and Tribal Affairs, ONDCP
May 3, 2011
The Federal Interagency Reentry Council, convened for the first time in January of this year, is bringing together numerous Federal agencies to make communities safer, save taxpayer dollars by lowering the costs of incarceration, and provide assistance to those returning from jail to enable them to become productive, tax-paying citizens. As part of this effort, the Council has launched a Web site to provide information for State and local entities, community and faith-based organizations, and people returning from jail or prison. The Web site also contains an interactive calendar listing upcoming trainings and a service directory of state-by-state information.
View the new National Reentry Resource Center Web site.
Office of the Director, ONDCP
April 29, 2011
Director Kerlikowske, Ava Cooper-Davis, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Washington Division, and DEA Liaison June Miller at the Executive Office of the President’s Federal take-back site. (April 29, 2011)
This weekend, Americans across the country are encouraged to drop-off unused or expired medications at government-sponsored "take-back" sites. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be hosting their second National Take-Back Day tomorrow, April 30th. Get involved by finding a drop-off location near you or learning more about properly disposing of your unused or expired medications.
Prescription drug abuse is the Nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and the Center's Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically. In addition, some drugs that are not disposed of properly can enter our environment and cause ecological harm.
To support this national effort, a number of Federal agencies held take-back days today to provide employees a convenient option for dropping-off unneeded medications. ONDCP joined seven other agencies in hosting a take-back location for staff. Other participating Federal agencies included: Office of Personnel Management, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and National Institutes of Health.
A Federal employee drops-off unused medications at one of the eight take-back sites available for DC-based government staff. (April 29, 2011)
Additional Resources:
• Find a location to drop-off your medication
• Learn how to properly dispose of your unused or expired medications
• Learn about Administration's comprehensive plan to address the prescription drug crisis
• Watch presentations on the science behind the ongoing prescription drug epidemic
Office of the Director
April 20, 2011
Director Kerlikowske is joined by DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, Executive Director of the NOPE Task Force Karen Perry, and Assistant Secretary for Howard Koh (not pictured) at the press conference on prescription drug abuse. (April 19, 2011)
Director Kerlikowske answers questions about the Obama Administration's plan to combat prescription drug abuse. (April 19, 2011)
"Today we are making an unprecedented commitment to combat the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. The Government, as well as parents, patients, health care providers, and manufacturers all play a role in preventing abuse. This plan will save lives, and it will substantially lessen the burden this epidemic takes on our families, communities, and workforce." - Vice President Biden (April 19, 2011)
Yesterday, the Obama Administration continued its work to combat America's prescription drug epidemic by releasing a new national framework outlining proactive steps to combat abuse, educate patients and healthcare providers, and reduce the prevalence of pill mills.
At the press conference, Director Kerlikowske; Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services, Howard Koh, M.D.; Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.; and DEA Administrator, Michele M. Leonhart released the Obama Administration's comprehensive action plan and announced new Federal requirements aimed at educating the medical community about proper prescribing practices.
Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Crisis focuses on several key areas, including: supporting the expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, recommending more convenient and environmentally responsible disposal methods to remove unused medications from the home, supporting education for patients and healthcare providers, and reducing the prevalence of pill mills and doctor shopping through enforcement efforts.
In support of the action plan, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is requiring an Opioids Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). The new program will require manufacturers of long-acting and extended-release opioids to provide educational programs to prescribers of these medications, as well as materials prescribers can use when counseling patients about the risks and benefits of opioid use.
The cross-governmental plan is the culmination of six months of collaboration across the Federal government, with agencies including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and others.
Additional Resources:
• Read the full plan Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Crisis
• Watch an archived video of the press conference
• Visit the Web page on Prescription Drug Abuse
• Read the press release
Office of State, Local and Tribal Affairs, ONDCP
April 7, 2011
A recent study evaluating the effectiveness of the Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign for that exposure to the campaign's anti-drug messages reduced marijuana use among teen girls. The research, published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) in March are the latest indication that this drug education campaign is effectively reaching and resonating with youth in local communities across the Nation.
Teenage girls face unique social pressures and vulnerabilities that can lead to the initiation of substance use. Research shows that drug and alcohol use – which can be tied to self-esteem issues, depression, and peer pressure – have a more profound physical and psychological impact on teen girls. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the community-based 'Above the Influence' campaign continues to receive the funding it needs to keep our young people safe, healthy, and drug-free.
Several ONDCP's partners and teens engaged with the "Above the Influence" campaign also underscored the importance of the campaign in supporting local communities:
"Negative peer pressure is incredibly strong, particularly among girls with low self-esteem who are in search of peer approval. Campaigns such as 'Above the Influence' are critical to increasing the awareness of young people about the dangers associated with drug abuse."
-- Roxanne Spillett, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
"I come from a background where some of my family members abused drugs and alcohol, but the empowering message of the ATI Campaign inspires me to keep going."
-- Stephanie Hardy, 18, member of Girls Inc. of Lynn, MA
"'Above the Influence' is about being above more than just drugs and alcohol – it's about standing up to negative influences in the media and online. We started our own ATI Campaign here at Girls Inc. and we have a lot of the posters hanging on our wall. I really love the message. It shows me that I'm not alone. Whenever I need information about how to stand up to negative pressures, I go on the ATI website and read about other teens doing well in their communities. It's a role-model movement."
-- Arantza Guillen, 17, member of Girls Inc. of Lynn, MA
The AJPH evidence appears on the heels of another recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Prevention Science. This independent scientific analysis, funded through a grant by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, showed that those youth who reported exposure to the ATI campaign were less likely to begin use of marijuana compared to those not exposed to the ATI campaign.
To learn more about the Above the Influence campaign visit www.AbovetheInfluence.com.
Miya Wiseman, FCAC
March 31, 2011
Deputy Director David Mineta and NBC Washington Correspondent Tracee Wilkins participate in the STOMP D.A.T. awards ceremony.
Youth groups from the mid-Atlantic region traveled to Washington, D.C on March 26th to participate in the ninth annual STOMP D.A.T. Stomping at the Drug Free Zone youth step show. Step teams from as far as Nokesville, VA competed against each other with raucous syncopated hand and foot rhythms, elaborate routines and inspiring chants that rivaled even those of collegiate step shows where the art of stepping became popularized. More importantly, each team was tasked with presenting a strong message that discourages drug, alcohol and tobacco use. And this year, ONDCP Deputy Director David Mineta was on hand to help recognize the participants and present awards to all three winning teams.
Sponsored by the Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., (FCAC) and the Federal City Public Service Foundation, STOMP D.A.T., which stands for Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco, is the largest youth step show in the Washington Metropolitan region. STOMP D.A.T. provides a creative, fun and educational platform for children to eschew harmful substances and promote drug-free lifestyles without feeling "un-cool" for doing so.
For the second straight year, the "Shades of You" team proved victorious. The first place winners, who all hail from Herndon High School in Herndon, VA, wowed the audience of 1,100 with their energy, enthusiasm and catchy anti-drug chants. Dressed in red shirts and sharp bow ties, Shades of You never missed a beat. The team also gave a special tribute step to the nine black Greek letter organizations, who were represented in the judging panel.
Watch the full video of the STOMP D.A.T. performance and check out this year's winning team.
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization that provides assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has more than 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. Notable members of Delta Sigma Theta include: U.S. Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin; former U.S. Surgeon General, Joycelyn Elders; former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Alexis Herman; musician Roberta Flack; actresses, Ruby Dee and Keshia Knight-Pulliam; civil rights icons Dorothy Height and Betty Shabazz; Senator Barbara Jordan and Congresswomen Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Marcia Fudge.
Miya Wiseman is a member of Federal City Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the editor of its newsletter, the FCAC Lifeline.
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