IN SUPPORT OF THE "ACCESS TO RECOVERY" TREATMENT INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, drug addiction is an illness which affects cities, large and small alike, and destroys
communities, tears apart families, and wrecks individual lives; and
WHEREAS, a balanced strategy of demand and supply reduction is the best way to reduce illicit
drug use and the consequences it brings; and
WHEREAS, drug treatment is an effective tool in overcoming drug addiction; and
WHEREAS, according to data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 100,000
people last year attempted to receive treatment but could not get it; and
WHEREAS, President Bush's drug control strategy calls for "healing America's drug users" and
increases funding for drug treatment by $1.6 billion over the next five years; and
WHEREAS, President Bush recently announced his "Access to Recovery" initiative which will
provide a three-year, $600 million commitment to treatment through a voucher system to increase
treatment delivery, improve assessment and referral, and enlarge access to effective treatment
programs; and
WHEREAS, this initiative complements existing alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs and
will increase capacity and consumer choice; and
WHEREAS, this initiative will ensure that those struggling with addiction have access to a
comprehensive continuum of treatment and support service options, including faith and
community-based programs, and drug courts, to ensure these options are more readily available;
and
WHEREAS, this initiative is an opportunity to forge a new partnership with community providers
to increase access and demonstrate that treatment does work and that it can make a difference in
many of our citizen's lives; and
WHEREAS, this initiative is part of a broader theme aiming to change the cultural conversation
on drug use and treatment by increasing access to treatment, motivating drug dependent-persons
to seek treatment, tearing down the stigma associated with recovery, and helping families and
friends come to terms with the problems associated with addiction,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
supports President Bush's three-year "Access to Recovery" treatment initiative to help stem the
rising social, cultural, physical, and economical costs of drug use in our communities.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
