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National Strategy for DEA's Demand Reduction Program

NCJ Number
158333
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The Demand Reduction Program (DRP) of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was created in 1986 in response to public and leadership concerns about the complex nature of the drug problem in the United States.
Abstract
With drug seizures, arrests, and convictions at record high levels, the DEA Administrator observed that, despite law enforcement successes in reducing the supply of illicit drugs in the United States, the ultimate answer should focus on reducing demand. The DRP provides leadership, coordination, and resources for drug prevention and education in each of DEA's 21 domestic field divisions. These programs are operated by special agents known as Demand Reduction Coordinators (DRC's) who have a broad range of experience in dealing with law enforcement, community groups, young people, employers, educators, health care professionals, and others. In 1994, the national drug strategy was revised to reflect three issues of current importance to DEA and its DRC's: (1) responding to the 3-year upward trend in adolescent experimentation with and use of illegal drugs; (2) presenting arguments against drug legalization; and (3) continuing support for the establishment of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs. Priorities of the national drug strategy focus on antilegalization education, law enforcement training, youth programs, drug-free workplace programs, support for community-based coalitions, and sports drug awareness programs. Goals and objectives associated with each priority are delineated.