The Merida Initiative

Recent U.S. cooperation with the Government of Mexico has led to a substantial disruption of illegal drug flow into the United States. Since taking office in December, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of Federal troops in an aggressive crackdown on drug trafficking and related violence along the border. More than 25,000 Mexican troops have participated in operations in over a dozen states. The Merida Initiative, the Administration's plan to reduce drug trafficking and related violence is currently before the U.S. Congress. Listen to remarks from Director Walters and Acting DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart regarding this important effort.

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Press Release

STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR ON THE PASSAGE OF THE MERIDA INITIATIVE

Mérida Initiative

The Mérida Initiative (also called Plan Mexico by critics) is a security cooperation between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America, with the aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnation

President Bush Releases National Drug Control Strategy

This report lays out the methods we are using to combat drug abuse in America. And it highlights the hopeful progress we're making in the fight against addiction.

When I took office in 2001, our country was facing a troubling rate of drug abuse, particularly among young people. Throughout America, young men and women saw their dreams disrupted by the destructive cycle of addiction.

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Interim Program Evaluation Findings Report Released

Additional Information from ONDCP

Alcohol Withdrawal

Headache. Jitters. Upset stomach. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be worse than a hangover—but help is available. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

Substance abuse

Substance abuse is the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health, or the welfare of others

Director Walters Launches $10 Million Anti-Meth Campaign

The White House National Drug Control Policy Director, John Walters, announces a new campaign targeting young adult methamphetamine (meth) users during a visit to Seattle, Washington. The Anti-Meth Campaign, coordinated through the ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, includes advertising and public education outreach to raise awareness about the dangers of meth and provide information about the effectiveness and availability of meth treatment. The main target audience for the Campaign is young adults, ages 18 to 34.

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Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally.

Methamphetamine

a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. It is a member of the family of phenylethylamines.

Director Walters discusses the results of the 2005 NSDUH

The survey, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, finds that current illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 continues to decline. The rate has been moving downward from 11.6 percent using drugs in the past month in 2002 to 11.2 percent in 2003, 10.6 percent in 2004 and 9.9 percent in 2005. This initial report from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released at the annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Recovery Month Observance, focuses on significant trends in substance abuse and mental health problems since 2002.

Similarly, the rate of current marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17 declined significantly from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2005, and the average age of first use of marijuana increased from under age 17 in 2003 to 17.4 years in 2005. Furthermore, drinking among teens declined, with 16.5 percent of youth ages 12-17 reporting current alcohol use and 9.9 percent reporting binge drinking. This compares with 17.6 percent of this age group reporting drinking in 2004 and 11.1 percent reporting binge drinking in the past month in 2004. These declines in alcohol use by youth, ages 12-17, follow years of relatively unchanged rates.

The baby boomer generation presents a different story. Among adults aged 50 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2005, reflecting the aging into this age group - the baby boom cohort.

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Prevention

Stopping Drug Use Before It Starts

Drug abuse

Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect.

Early Marijuana Use a Warning Sign for Later Gang Involvement

In this podcast, Director Walters discusses a new Special Report showing that teens who use drugs are more likely to engage in violent and delinquent behavior and join gangs. Early use of marijuana, the most commonly used drug among teens, is a warning sign for later gang involvement.

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Prevention

Stopping Drug Use Before It Starts

Gang

Gang activities are not restricted to typical organized crime groups,[1] but may be associated with a general class of behavior in which collective action and support of communal interests and goals serves to achieve social cohesion or solidarity "es