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Agency Budget Summary
Department of Agriculture
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
I. Resource Summary
II. Methodology
- The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-690), enacted November 18, 1988, and the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-147), enacted November 10, 1989, defined the role of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in providing drug abuse prevention and referral activities.
- WIC regulations have required, when appropriate, referrals to alcohol and drug abuse counseling. For many WIC local agencies, it is routine to warn pregnant women about the dangers of drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using illegal drugs. Also, many States consider alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use as nutritionally-related risk criteria.
- Drug abuse education for WIC activities is defined as: providing information to women participants concerning the dangers of drug abuse; referring participants who are suspected drug abusers to drug abuse clinics, treatment programs, counselors, or other drug abuse professionals where such services are locally available; and distribution of drug abuse prevention materials developed by the USDA.
III. Program Summary
- Drug abuse education for WIC activities is defined as providing information to participants concerning the dangers of drug abuse; referring participants who are known or suspected drug abusers to drug abuse clinics, treatment programs, counselors, or other drug abuse professionals where such services are locally available; and distributing drug abuse prevention materials developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- USDA appoints drug/alcohol abuse education and prevention experts to the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant, and Fetal Nutrition.
- WIC local agencies are required to coordinate with local alcohol and drug abuse counseling and treatment services.
IV. Budget Summary
1999 Program
Goal 3: Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.
- The FY 1999 total resources include $15.7 million for activities which support Goal 3 of the Strategy. This amount consists of drug prevention, education, and training services.
2000 Request
Goal 3: Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use.
- The FY 2000 request for Goal 3 activities is $16.5 million, $0.8 million more than the FY 1999 enacted level.
V. Program Accomplishments
- USDA continues to support WIC State agencies' efforts to encourage local agencies to screen women for drug and alcohol abuse and refer them, when appropriate, to alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs available in their communities. Anecdotal data suggest that WIC local agencies annually refer 10% of their women participants to drug treatment centers.
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