ONDCP Blog

A Strategy to Reduce Drug Trafficking along our Northern Border

Today, I joined Director Kerlikowske in releasing the Obama Administration’s first-ever National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy.  The Strategy outlines new actions that seek to reduce the two-way flow of illicit drugs between the United States and Canada by increasing coordination among Federal, state, local, and tribal enforcement authorities, enhancing intelligence-sharing among counterdrug agencies, and strengthening our Nation’s ongoing counterdrug partnerships and initiatives with the Government of Canada and Canadian law enforcement agencies.  The Strategy places a special emphasis on improving cooperation with tribal governments, devoting an entire chapter to enhancing law enforcement coordination on tribal lands.  By strengthening integrated cross-border law enforcement between our two countries, the Strategy supports a key area of cooperation outlined by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper in the Beyond the Border declaration.

Ecstasy and marijuana are common drug threats to the United States from Canada, and the United States remains the primary transit country for cocaine from South America entering into Canada. The National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy provides an overview of current counterdrug efforts and identifies supporting actions aimed at disrupting this two-way flow of illegal drugs.  Some key strategic objectives outlined in the Strategy include:

• Enhancing coordination of intelligence collection among U.S. Federal, state, local, tribal and Canadian law enforcement agencies with Northern border counternarcotics responsibilities.
• Increasing the amount seized of illicit narcotics and drug proceeds crossing the Northern border by bolstering security at and between ports of entry.
• Enhancing air and maritime domain awareness and response capabilities along the Northern border.
• Developing resources and providing training opportunities to tribal law enforcement agencies.
• Targeting the financial infrastructure of Transnational Criminal Organizations and increasing judicial cooperation with the Government of Canada.

The National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy is the product of an extensive consultation process that began with hundreds of letters from ONDCP soliciting input from relevant Congressional delegations, the Government of Canada, and Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials. As part of this process, I traveled to Seattle, Washington; Blackfeet Nation, Montana; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Detroit, Michigan; and upstate New York.  The consultation meetings in these locations included discussions with U.S. Attorneys, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) directors, our Canadian counterparts, and panels of Federal, state, local, and tribal officials. The input we received at these meetings played a significant role in shaping the Strategy, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with law enforcement at all levels here and in Canada to reduce the threat that drug trafficking poses to communities on both sides of the border.

Ben Tucker is Deputy Director for State, Local, and Tribal Affairs

Youth Drug Use: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Ed. Note: This post originally appeared on HuffingtonPost.com

Recently, I joined officials from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Department of Health and Human Services to announce the results of the largest annual survey on youth drug use in America. NIDA's annual "Monitoring the Future" study, which questions more than 46,000 teens in over 400 public and private schools across America, is a vital source of information about the types of substances young people are using, as well as their attitudes and perceptions regarding substance use -- including alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

This year's data revealed some troubling new trends, including startling new information showing an emerging threat of so-called "synthetic drugs," which have been marketed as "legal" alternatives to marijuana. According to the survey, one in nine high school seniors has used synthetic marijuana marketed as "K2" and "spice" in the past year. That means the use of these drugs now rank as the second most frequently used illegal drug among high school seniors, second only to marijuana.

To address this emerging challenge, the Drug Enforcement Administration recently used their emergency regulatory authority to temporarily ban the sale of the chemicals used to manufacture K2 and spice. I have also convened officials from across the federal government at the White House to share data and coordinate a federal response to the threat of synthetic drugs. We are also working with Congress; and just two weeks ago the House of Representatives passed legislation that would permanently ban the chemicals used to make synthetic drugs, including those marketed as "bath salts."

New data also shows that youth marijuana use is on the rise. In fact, more high school 10th graders smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes. Making matters worse, young people's perception of harm regarding marijuana use is declining. Unfortunately, the barrage of mixed media messages and legalization campaigns that seek to normalize drug use shape young people's attitudes toward drug use. Let's keep this in mind: Using illegal drugs is not part of everyday life in America, nor is it a rite of passage. Given the wide array of public health research outlining the serious consequences of using marijuana, we must work to ensure teens understand that marijuana use can harm a young person's health and his or her future.

Despite these challenges, this year's survey also contains some very promising trends. Rates of drug use among young people are far lower than they were 30 years ago. And while still far too high (alcohol is still the most widely abused drug among teens), rates of teen cigarette smoking and drinking are at the lowest levels ever measured. Moreover, far more teens disapprove of smoking today than they did 20 years ago.

This progress didn't happen overnight or by accident. Over the past several decades, a concerted effort by parents, the private sector, and public health and safety institutions was mounted to keep young people healthy and protected from harmful substances through a balanced combination of education, treatment and enforcement. Nationwide media campaigns have encouraged young people to make healthy choices by rejecting drug use. Local community coalitions have formed across the nation to address local threats with local solutions. Law enforcement agencies have targeted the supply of substances, making them expensive and less available to teens. Not only have these efforts substantially reduced the number of young people hurt by drugs, but they have also changed the culture surrounding these substances. This is important because when society disapproves of drug use, and its harms are accurately and frequently communicated to young people, fewer will begin using drugs. For example, the rate of smoking goes down when the acceptability of smoking goes down. The percentage of students reporting daily cigarette use is significantly lower, along with the percentage of students who think smoking is acceptable.

Preventing drug use before it ever begins is, after all, the most cost-effective way to address our drug problem. Successful prevention means fewer people will develop substance use disorders, and the consequences of substance use -- including health care, treatment costs and criminal justice system costs -- will all decrease.

The Obama administration has taken a comprehensive approach to the substance abuse problem, and science directs that effort. Research shows time and again that adult influencers are the most powerful force in the lives of young people. We will continue working with local communities to decrease substance use rates across the nation. In the meantime, we hope you will join us in making America healthier and safer.

For more information or help on how to talk to teens about drugs, visit TheAntiDrug.com.

R. Gil Kerlikowske is Director of National Drug Control Policy

I Was Determined to Save My Life

Cross-posted from Faces and Voices of Recovery

I am a 35 year old survivor who has been clean and sober for almost seven years.  My drug of choice was Methamphetamine. I would stop at nothing to get my next hit.  I was very ill, both mentally and physically from not eating or caring for myself. I lost everything including my son and my freedom in a matter of 4 years.  In 2001 I was arrested and charged with many crimes, all due to my addiction. 

In 2002 I was given the gift of being able to enter into a long term drug treatment facility.  I was determined to save my life.  I had to be taught how to be productive, goal orientated, have a positive self-esteem and how to fight for my life. They taught me how to be proud of my accomplishments and who I am.  In 2004 I graduated the program.   

Sobriety has brought so much back to me, including my son as of 2 months ago. I have found a new love for life and others.  I now work as a counselor helping individuals to overcome and cope with their disease.  I enjoy helping others to help themselves.  I assist in guiding those who are in the same position I was over seven years ago.  

Sobriety and life is worth fighting for.  We just have to be shown the way.

This post is part of the ONDCP Stories of Hope blog series.

The Demon I Call Addiction

Cross-posted from Faces and Voices of Recovery

I was 9 yrs old when I had my 1st sip of beer.  I spit it out, but by the 7th grade I was smoking pot, cigarettes, and drinking vodka on the rocks. I left home for good when I was 15, I believe it was around 1984. I spent the years from then, until I went to prison in, October 2002 using drugs and alcohol. I wasn’t picky I would do whatever was available but my preference was crack or pills.

I cleaned up briefly two times in all those years and that’s was only when I was pregnant with my \two sons. I have been free from prison since October 2006. Yes, I have slipped since being released, but I am clean now thanks to a po wer higher than myself.   Maybe its to help another addict, I’m not sure. I do know that I should have overdosed numerous times over, but for some reason I have been spared.

I have my 2 sons, that I have not raised, but we are forming bonds.  The love and trust is growing everyday.

It is a struggle. Some days it would be so “easy” to just give in to the demon I call addiction. The demon could take hold no matter how bad I didn’t want to, no matter how much I cried out to GOD to help me stop.

I truly believe addiction is a disease that people need to acknowledge, just like cancer or aids. It is not just a “CHOICE” we make. I believe it is very hard for people that have never suffered from addiction to understand just what it is that we go through. For me personally it was to turn off my feelings, when things got to hard I popped a pill. When 1 wasn’t enough I popped two or three, ok lets get real, I snorted them. When I finally decided enough was enough and quit the last time I was up to twenty 30mg Roxies a day. Everyday I was risking my freedom, losing the home I had just bought, and losing my children again. So I reached out to friends that are clean and simply said HELP and for that I am here to tell my story.

This post is part of the ONDCP Stories of Hope blog series.