[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 25 (Tuesday, March 2, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H714]]
                              {time}  1415
2004 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert) laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the accompanying papers, without objection, 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Agriculture, 
Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, Committee on Financial 
Services, Committee on Government Reform, Committee on International 
Relations, Committee on Small Business, Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Select 
Committee on Homeland Security:

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am transmitting the 2004 National Drug Control Strategy, consistent 
with the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 
1998 (21 U.S.C. 1705).
  Two years ago, my Administration issued its National Drug Control 
Strategy setting forth a balanced approach to reducing drug use among 
teenagers and adults. The Strategy set ambitious two- and five-year 
performance-based goals: (i) to lower the rate of drug use by 10 
percent over two years; and (ii) to lower the rate by 25 percent over 
five years. The success of the Strategy can be measured by its results.
  I am pleased to report that we have exceeded our two-year goal of 
reducing drug use among young people. The most recent survey shows an 
11 percent drop between 2001 and 2003 in the use of illicit drugs by 
teenagers. Among teens, some drugs--such as LSD--have dropped to record 
low levels of use. For others, we are seeing the lowest levels of use 
in almost a decade.
  Despite this good news, drug addiction continues to challenge far too 
many Americans. Addiction to drugs destroys ties of trust, family, and 
friendship, and reduces all the richness of life to a single 
destructive desire. Almost every American has known someone who has 
followed the self-destructive path of addiction. Too many Americans 
want to change a family member's behavior, but are afraid of causing 
division and, perhaps, estrangement.
  Our Strategy proposes a remarkable and unprecedented array of drug 
control programs, treatment initiatives, and media campaign efforts. 
But more than any program, it seeks to engage the desire of all 
Americans to make this a better Nation, facing down the lie of 
addiction, and offering the hope of recovery.
  My Administration will continue to place a high priority on reducing 
drug addiction in America. I ask for your continued support in this 
critical endeavor.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, March 1, 2004.

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