[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               2013 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY--PM 8

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am pleased to transmit the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy, my 
Administration's blueprint for reducing drug use and its consequences 
in the United States. As detailed in the pages that follow, my 
Administration remains committed to a balanced public health and public 
safety approach to drug policy. This approach is based on science, not 
ideology--and scientific research suggests that we have made real 
progress.
  The rate of current cocaine use in the United States has dropped by 
50 percent since 2006, and methamphetamine use has declined by one-
third. New data released this year suggest that we are turning a corner 
in our efforts to address the epidemic of prescription drug abuse, with 
the number of people abusing prescription drugs decreasing by nearly 13 
percent--from 7 million in 2010 to 6.1 million in 2011. And the number 
of Americans reporting that they drove after using illicit drugs also 
dropped by 12 percent between 2010 and 2011.
  While this progress is encouraging, we must sustain our commitment to 
preventing drug use before it starts--the most cost-effective way to 
address the drug problem. The importance of prevention is becoming ever 
more apparent. Despite positive trends in other areas, we continue to 
see elevated rates of marijuana use among young people, likely driven 
by declines in perceptions of risk. We must continue to get the facts 
out about the health risks of drug use and support the positive 
influences in young people's lives that help them avoid risky 
behaviors.
  The Strategy that follows presents a sophisticated approach to a 
complicated problem, encompassing prevention, early intervention, 
treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, effective law 
enforcement, and international cooperation.
  I look forward to working with the Congress and stakeholders at all 
levels in advancing this 21st century approach to drug policy.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, April 24, 2013.

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