[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 169 (Tuesday, November 17, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

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               2015 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY--PM 32

  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 2015 National Drug Control Strategy, my 
Administration's 21st century approach to drug policy that works to 
reduce illicit drug use and its consequences in the United States. This 
evidence-based plan, which balances public health and public safety 
efforts to prevent, treat, and provide recovery from the disease of 
addiction, seeks to build a healthier, safer, and more prosperous 
country.
  Since the release of my Administration's inaugural National Drug 
Control Strategy in 2010, we have seen significant progress in 
addressing challenges we face along the entire spectrum of drug 
policy--including prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery 
support, criminal justice reform, law enforcement, and international 
cooperation. However, we still face serious drug-related challenges. 
Illicit drug use is a public health issue that jeopardizes not only our 
well-being, but also the progress we have made in strengthening our 
economy--contributing to addiction, disease, lower student academic 
performance, crime, unemployment, and lost productivity.
  Therefore, we continue to pursue a drug policy that is effective, 
compassionate, and just. We are working to erase the stigma of 
addiction, ensuring treatment and a path to recovery for those with 
substance use disorders. We continue to research the health risks of 
drug use to encourage healthy behaviors, particularly among young 
people. We are reforming our criminal justice system, providing 
alternatives to incarceration for non-violent, substance-involved 
offenders, improving re-entry programs, and addressing unfair 
sentencing disparities. We continue to devote significant law 
enforcement resources to reduce the supply of drugs via sea, air, and 
land interdiction, and law enforcement operations and investigations. 
We also continue to partner with our international allies, helping them 
address transnational organized crime, while addressing substance use 
disorders and other public health issues.
  I thank the Congress for its continued support of our efforts. I look 
forward to joining with them and all our local, State, tribal, national 
and international partners to advance this important undertaking.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, November 17, 2015.

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