By Crystal Swann
July 1, 2002

On June 14, Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles convened a meeting of the Drug Treatment Gap Task Force to discuss the responsibilities of the cities in the fight against drugs and the administration's role in providing treatment to those in need. The mayors heard from Joseph Peters, Deputy Director, State and Local Affairs, White House Office on Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Dr. Joseph Autry, Deputy Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

Joe Peters of ONDCP outlined in his remarks that the Administrations' drug policy goals center on three focal points: "Stopping drug use before it starts, healing the drug users, and disrupting the drug market." This goal is strongly directed at the youth. The administration has put forward an aggressive goal of reducing drug use participation among teens by 10 percent over the next two years. As Mr. Peters' pointed out, according to the latest National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, adults who first used marijuana at the age of 14 or younger were 5 times more likely to be classified as drug dependent or abusers that adults who first used marijuana at age 18 or older.

Dr. Autry of SAMHSA echoed Mr. Peters remarks in his presentation which explained how the administration was moving to provide additional drug treatment funding for those individuals seeking assistance. As Dr. Autry noted, "Treatment for drug abuse and addiction not only reduces drug use, but also lowers health care utilization, crime, high-risk behavior, welfare, and homelessness. It increases employment, and creates taxpayers." Both the mayors and the presenters agreed on the value of treatment availability and the necessity of coerced treatment options. "Coerced treatment can also be effective, particularly when structure and sanction ensure that patients remain in treatment for a significant period of time, stated Dr. Autry.

"Because of the nature of the disorder and the fragmentation of health care delivery in this country, individuals in need of drug treatment appear for treatment in a range of settings, such as primary health care settings, and in the criminal justice, mental health, and social service systems, stated Dr. Autry. As discussed these systems often are poorly equipped to screen, diagnose, and provide treatment, either directly or by referral to appropriate services. They often impede the proper assessment and treatment of individuals in need of substance abuse services.