    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [December 11, 2008]
    [Pages 1439-1440]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Discussion on Drug Use Reduction
    December 11, 2008

        I've just had an extraordinary discussion with a group of our fellow
    citizens; someare pastors, some are ex-cons, some are baseball players,
    some are docs, some are

    [[Page 1440]]

    community activists, all who have come together to talk about a
    comprehensive strategy to deal with drug use in America.
        And our strategy is threefold: one, reduce demand, interdict supply,
    and then help people who have become addicts. And we're making progress.
    No question, there's still work to do in America, but we are making
    progress. And one way to note the progress is this statistic: Since
    2001, teenage drug use has declined by 25 percent; that means 900,000
    fewer teens on drugs.
        The strategy can be measured. The implementation requires
    understanding that grassroots activists--for example, like the faith
    community--can play an integral work in working alongside government to
    achieve our objectives. The Admiral here has--
    Admiral Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, reported about our
    interdiction efforts--that we've been making great progress at
    interdicting, for example, cocaine being trafficked primarily out of
    South America and Central America into our country.
        And finally, I am pleased that the Access to Recovery program and
    programs like that are vibrant and active, which basically says to an
    addict: If you so choose, you can redeem your health, redeem your money
    at a place of love in the faith community.
        Lives are changing. People's lives are being saved. I say government
    is justice, government is law and--but government must not fear places
    of love. And so this has been a positive report and a great meeting, and
    I want to thank you all for coming. More importantly, I want to thank
    you for being citizens and not spectators, people who have decided to do
    something about your personal lives, as well as the lives of those in
    your communities. It is the collective effort of thousands of social
    entrepreneurs that help make America a hopeful place.
        There will be more work done after I'm out of here, but we have laid
    the foundation for a successful effort against drug use, drug supply,
    and helping those who have been addicted.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:09 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.