IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESIDENT’S 2013 NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY

WHEREAS, President Obama believes in the pursuit of an America built to last – a nation with an educated, skilled workforce with the knowledge, energy, and expertise to succeed in a highly competitive global marketplace; and

WHEREAS, for too many Americans, this future is limited by drug use, which inhibits the ability of our citizens to remain healthy, safe, and achieve their full potential; and

WHEREAS, in April, the Administration released the 2013 National Drug Control Policy, a 21st century approach to drug policy that outlines innovative policies and programs and recognizes that substance use disorders are not just a criminal justice issue, but also a major public health concern; and

WHEREAS, the President’s Strategy promotes national and community-based programs, such as the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, that are evidence-based and work to prevent substance use in schools, on college campuses, and in the workplace because preventing drug use before it begins – particularly among young people – is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences in America; and

WHEREAS, since early detection and treatment of a substance abuse problem are more effective and less costly than dealing with a chronic substance use disorder, the President’s Strategy works to expand programs like Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), supports education and legislation aimed at providing health care professionals with continuing education and training on addiction and safe prescribing practices for painkillers, and seeks to reduce opioid overdose deaths by expanding comprehensive overdose prevention measures; and

WHEREAS, the Strategy details actions to implement the Affordable Care Act, which makes access to treatment a new reality for millions of Americans as it ends discrimination by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for substance use disorders; expanding treatment and reentry services for those incarcerated; and targeting expansion of care for populations with an unmet need for substance abuse treatment, including veterans, college and university students, and Native Americans; and

WHEREAS, the Obama Administration’s Strategy supports the lifelong process of recovery by working to lift the stigma associated with addiction and reviewing and reforming laws and regulations that impede recovery from addiction so that millions of responsible and healthy Americans in recovery can fully engage in their communities; and

WHEREAS, the President’s Strategy acknowledges that the United States cannot arrest or incarcerate its way out of the drug problem and must take a “smart on crime” approach using innovative criminal justice reforms, including specialized Drug Courts, to break the cycle of drug use, crime, arrest, and incarceration by diverting non-violent drug offenders into treatment instead of prison,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors recognizes the threat that drug use poses to our society and supports the President’s National Drug Control Strategy as a part of his larger effort to build an America built to last.