V. The National Drug Control Budget
he FY 2000 National Drug Control Budget supports the five goals and 31 objectives of the National Drug Control Strategy and is structured to make progress towards the performance targets outlined in the national drug control Performance Measures of Effectiveness (PME) system. In total, funding recommended for FY 2000 is $17.8 billion, an increase of $735 million (4.3 percent) over FY 1999 regular appropriations of $17.0 billion. In addition to regular appropriations, federal drug control agencies received $844 million for emergency purposes in FY 1999. With this emergency funding, drug control appropriations total $17.9 billion in FY 1999. A summary of drug-control spending for FY 1996 through FY 2000 is presented in Figure 5-1.
Spending by Department
Funding by department for FY 1998 to FY 2000 is displayed in Table 5-1. Included in the funding totals shown in Table 5-1 are additional resources for supply-reduction programs in the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Transportation, State, and Defense, which will support security along the Southwest border; aid efforts in the Andean Ridge region, Mexico, and the Caribbean; and continue enforcement operations targeting domestic sources of illegal drugs. Demand-reduction efforts by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education will support programs to increase public drug treatment, provide basic research on drug use, and continue prevention efforts aimed at school children.
Major Increases in FY 2000
The following major increases in drug-control funding are included in the President's FY 2000 budget for prevention and treatment programs:
- Drug Intervention Program: +$100 million. This initiative, funded through the Office of Justice Programs, will provide drug abuse assistance to state and local governments to develop and implement comprehensive systems for drug testing, drug treatment and graduated sanctions for offenders.
- Youth Tobacco Prevention: +$61.0 million. The CDC will receive an increase of $27.0 million in drug-related funds to extend state-based efforts to conduct comprehensive programs to reduce and prevent tobacco use. The FDA will receive an additional $34.0 million in drug-related funding in FY 2000 to expand implementation of its final rule intended to halt the supply of tobacco products to children.
- Treatment Capacity Expansion Grants: +$55 million. This additional funding will help SAMHSA expand the availability of drug treatment in areas of existing or emerging treatment need.
- Substance Abuse Block Grant Program: +$30 million ($24.8 million drug-related). This increase for SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Block Grant will provide funding to states for treatment and prevention services. This program is the backbone of federal efforts to reduce the gap between those who are actively seeking substance abuse treatment and the capacity of the public treatment system.
- School Coordinators: +$15 million. These additional resources will expand the School Coordinator program, started in FY 1999. With this increase, total funding for this initiative will be $50 million in FY 2000. This program will support the hiring of drug prevention coordinators in nearly half of the middle schools across the country to help improve the quality and effectiveness of drug prevention programs.
- National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: +$10 million. This additional funding brings the budget for ONDCP's Media Campaign to $195 million in FY 2000. With this money, ONDCP will continue its targeted, high impact, paid media campaign designed to change naive adolescent perceptions of the dangers and social approval of drug use.
- Drug Courts: +$10 million. These additional resources will bring total funding for the Drug Courts program to $50 million in FY 2000. This program provides alternatives to incarceration through using thecoercive power of the court to force abstinence and alter behavior with a combination of escalating sanctions, mandatory drug testing, treatment, and strong aftercare programs.
The following major increases in drug-control funding are included in the President's FY 2000 budget for supply reduction programs:
- Southwest Border -- INS: +$50 million ($7.5 million drug-related). INS will continue to deploy the Integrated Surveillance Information System (ISIS). ISIS, which incorporates infrared and color cameras with ground sensors, will aid Border Patrol enforcement efforts and drug interdiction along the Southwest border.
- International Programs -- State: +$29 million. These new resources over FY 1999 (excluding emergency funding) are requested for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). This additional funding includes support for Andean countries, Mexico, and assistance to international organizations.
- DEA Drug Intelligence: +$22 million. This funding will provide $13 million to accelerate implementation of DEA's FIREBIRD office automation system. FIREBIRD includes e-mail, uniform word processing and other forms of office automation that will provide DEA with more sophisticated electronic investigative records. Once fully deployed, FIREBIRD will allow DEA components located around the world to act as one cohesive unit through instantaneous access to critical law enforcement and intelligence information. In addition, $9 million will enhance DEA's Special Operations Division by providing critical support for Title III investigations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking organizations.
- Forward Operating Locations -- DoD: +$73.5 million. The drug control budget for the Department of Defense includes these additional resources in FY 2000 for restructuring SOUTHCOM's theater counterdrug architecture, which will include the development of three Forward Operating Locations (FOLs). These FOLs will support transit and source zone air operations in SOUTHCOM's area of responsibility.
Spending by Strategy Goal
Funding by Strategy Goal is summarized in Table 5-2. Funding priorities include resources to reduce drug use by young people (Goal 1), make treatment available to chronic users (Goal 3), interdict the flow of drugs at our borders (Goal 4), and target sources of illegal drugs and crime associated with criminal enterprises (Goals 2 and 5). In FY 2000, funding will be $2.1 billion for Goal 1, a net increase of almost $21 million over FY 1999, and $3.5 billion for Goal 3, an increase of 4.2 percent over FY 1999. Further, multiagency efforts, which target ports-of-entry and the Southwest border, will expand funding for Goal 4 to $2.3 billion in FY 2000, an increase of 6.3 percent. Funding for Goal 2 will be $7.7 billion in FY 2000, an increase of $270.2 million, and resources devoted to Goal 5 will reach $2.1 billion in FY 2000, an increase of 8.3 percent.
Federal Funding Priorities: FY 2000-FY 2004
By law, ONDCP must annually report its program and budget priorities over a five-year planning period. These priorities also are highlighted in ONDCP's consolidated five-year Drug Control Budget: FY 2000 to FY 2004. This volume, required by statute, is produced each November for the consideration of the President and the President's Council on Counter-Narcotics. Through FY 2004, funding for the following major program areas will be emphasized through ONDCP's drug-budget authorities:
- National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
- Criminal Justice Treatment/Break-the-Cycle Programs
- Close the Public System Treatment Gap
- School Drug-Prevention Coordinators
- Southwest Border Programs
- Follow-on Resources to Support FY 1999 Emergency Supplemental Activities
- Andean Coca Reduction
