[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[January 31, 1991]
[Pages 86-88]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a White House Briefing on the 1991 National Drug Control 
Strategy
January 31, 1991

    Thank you all very much. Please be seated. I wanted to come over
here first to thank many people in this room, so many of you having in 
one way or another--directly, some indirectly--helping us formulate and 
now put into effect the National Drug Control Strategy. I know that many 
of you have been instrumental in the development and the implementation 
of it. And I really am very, very grateful to each and every one of you.
    As all of you know, our first Drug Strate-

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gy, released nearly a year and a half ago, recognized the need for a 
comprehensive approach. Indeed, I think it's the first time the 
Government has formulated a comprehensive approach: effective law 
enforcement, drug prevention programs for our schools and communities, 
more and increasingly effective drug treatment, coordinated border 
interdiction, and a greater role for international diplomacy.
    Our strategy is comprehensive. Our strategy is sound. Our strategy 
works. And the thrust of our strategy remains the same: cutting down the 
supply and then suppressing the demand.
    We've called on every part of the administration to work closely 
together. And that's why I was particularly pleased to be joined by 
those who are up here with me and then Judge Sessions--Bill Sessions--
and Reg and Bill Moss and others here; Dick Thornburgh, Attorney 
General; and then Lou Sullivan on the health side, as we do put more 
emphasis on prevention and on treatment; and then John Walters, of 
course, who's doing a superb job.
    I am very pleased to report that, thanks to your efforts and the 
dedicated efforts of so many--and I was briefed yesterday on the 
volunteer aspect of this, the communities all across the country that 
are helping--I would say so many individuals and community leaders 
across the country--the signs of progress are unmistakable. The clear 
message of available data is that drug use is on the way down. Since 
I've come into office, we've seen an important and an encouraging shift 
in drug use trends.
    Last December, we came out with new data that showed that drug use 
is declining. Not only is all casual drug use down but hospitals are 
reporting fewer cocaine-related emergencies and fewer cocaine-related 
deaths. And just last week, Dr. Sullivan's HHS announced the results of 
an annual survey that showed that cocaine use among high school seniors 
is at its lowest point in years. These numbers can only bode well for 
the future. And if fewer high school seniors are using drugs today, I 
think we're going to have a lot fewer drug problems tomorrow.
    While this is welcome news, you might ask: Can we lessen our 
commitment to stopping the scourge of drugs? Can we afford to look 
elsewhere, lose interest? Can we declare victory? And, of course, the 
answer is an emphatic no.
    The strategy that we're releasing today is intended to make sure 
that the favorable trends that we've been following keep right on going 
in that same direction--down. And that's why we're putting more agents 
on the streets, hiring more prosecutors in the courtrooms, and building 
more prisons. And as we encourage more people to stop using drugs, we 
intend to provide them with more help. And I'm again requesting a 
substantial increase in Federal drug treatment spending.
    I'm particularly proud of a new $100-million proposal designed to 
expand our drug treatment capacity. And that means as many as 200,000 
more people will receive help to get off and hopefully stay off drugs 
during fiscal 1992.
    This strategy will also provide more funding for drug prevention and 
more resources for cooperative efforts with our Latin American allies 
who are helping to stop the drug trade at the source.
    In total, we're proposing a drug budget of $11.7 billion, an 11-
percent increase over the last fiscal year and an 82-percent increase 
just since the beginning of our administration. This additional funding 
will help keep the pressure on. And I believe it persuasively 
demonstrates that our administration is committed to defeating the 
menace of drugs and that that commitment is unswerving. In fact, it is 
growing stronger, and I want to do my part in helping all of you and 
have the American people understand that.
    In our first strategy we proposed a set of ambitious 2-year 
objectives. And I'm pleased to report that we have achieved those goals; 
in some cases we've surpassed them. In this strategy we've set new and 
more ambitious goals because, as everyone knows, a drug problem 
persists, creating misery wherever it flourishes. Let me just assure 
everyone that we will go after these new goals as vigorously as we 
pursued the last ones.
    I know we're looking forward to bringing Governor Bob Martinez on 
board, taking

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Bill Bennett's place. He has the necessary experience on the front 
lines, if you will, the necessary commitment to fully implement this 
strategy.
    In closing, again I want to thank you, the individuals who are 
helping make this strategy work, putting in the long hours and making 
everyone proud, very proud indeed, of our Federal effort.
    Thank you very much. And now I understand that John Walters will 
conduct a briefing to flesh out some of what I've said here. But I think 
the bottom line is this nation simply must succeed in this fight. And, 
you know, I expect some wonder whether I am totally preoccupied with 
events halfway around the world. And I really wanted to take this 
opportunity to come over here to you who have done so much in this fight 
to let you know you're not alone. And I will do my level best to support 
you every inch of the way.
    Thank you all very, very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 1:55 p.m. in Room 450 
                        of the Old Executive Office Building. In his 
                        remarks, he referred to William S. Sessions, 
                        Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; 
                        William P. Moss, Chairman of the President's 
                        Drug Advisory Council; Attorney General Dick 
                        Thornburgh; Secretary of Health and Human 
                        Services Louis W. Sullivan; and the following 
                        officials of the Office of National Drug Control 
                        Policy: Reggie B. Walton, Associate Director for 
                        State and Local Affairs; John P. Walters, Chief 
                        of Staff and Acting Director; Bob Martinez, 
                        Director-designate; and William J. Bennett, 
                        former Director.