CADCA’s Statement Regarding the Obama Administration's FY 2011 Drug Control Budget Proposal

CADCA’S STATEMENT REGARDING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S FY 2011 DRUG CONTROL BUDGET PROPOSAL

Washington, D.C. – On Monday, the Obama Administration released its Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget proposal. In response, CADCA Chairman and CEO issued the following statement:

“CADCA is very pleased that the proposed budget includes an exciting new focus on prevention, through programs such as the Prevention Prepared Communities program, which would help communities develop effective mental health and substance abuse prevention efforts. We look forward to hopefully working with the Administration to help craft how that new program will work. I applaud the Administration for expanding enhancement grants for the STOP Underage Drinking Act program by $1 million and increasing the overall budget for drug prevention, treatment and interdiction.

"However, at a time when youth attitudes about drug use have softened, it was disappointing to see a proposed $9 million cut from last year’s funding level for the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program, a program specifically designed to prevent drug use that has been extremely effective. Communities with DFC grantees have not only delayed the onset of youth drug and alcohol use, they have reduced youth drug use, tobacco use and underage drinking to levels lower than national averages.

“It is because of the DFC program that we now have community-based coalitions located throughout the country and U.S. territories implementing strategies to prevent and reduce youth drug use and underage drinking. DFC coalitions assess their local community’s substance abuse problem, use that data to develop comprehensive community-wide prevention strategies and track their progress over time.

“Therefore, while the renewed focus on prevention is a welcome development, which we wholeheartedly support, we will continue to ensure that the solid foundation of the Drug Free Communities program, which reduces drug use and its consequences in hundreds of communities, is enhanced as well.”