The National Methamphetamine
Drug Conference
Closing Remarks
Barry R. McCaffrey, Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy
would suggest that the last two days started an incredible, synergistic reaction. We were successful at combining experts from prevention, treatment, law enforcement, the medical community, and the scholastic world. The conference has been absolutely remarkable. Our assembly is what American government is truly all
about—hardworking, knowledgeable people who are trying to develop serious policy.
Let me briefly summarize what we learned at this conference: The problem with methamphetamine is not hopeless, and we are making progress. We learned from Professor David Musto that the nation must learn, again, not to take drugs. At the societal level, it is the absence of that learning experience and a general public consensus against taking drugs that causes a drug epidemic. Stimulant use rises and falls based upon how well Americans remember the past. Drug use declines when the American people get organized, and there is public condemnation of drug abuse.
Dr. Alan Leshner's insights gave us hope that we can treat the methamphetamine addict. Although we need to do more to develop medications and treatment protocols, we have a science-based strategy that will give us guidelines to rehabilitate the addict. Jeremy Travis, the director of NIJ, presented Drug Use Forecasting system data that show methamphetamine use plummeting in some cities. Methamphetamine use in Dallas is down 52% while in Denver, Omaha, and Phoenix, it is down 40 %, and in Los Angeles, 75%. Clearly, the problem will respond to our enforcement measures. From Randy Weaver of the National Drug Intelligence Center, we now know that placing restrictions on precursor controls affects production and trafficking patterns. We have the tools to help the law enforcement community do its job.
Attorney General Reno's speech was brilliant guidance from the chief law enforcement officer in the United States. She devised many innovations in her previous career prosecuting and treating drug cases in south Florida. She, along with Louis Freeh and other people in law enforcement, is saying: If you want to solve this problem, you must include prevention and treatment as central components. We also learned much from DEA Administrator Tom Constantine. He has increased investigations to stop international trafficking organizations and is providing training and assistance to help local law enforcement on clandestine lab takedowns. Besides his 34 years of service to law enforcement, he is also a dad and grandfather. He understands what is at stake here.
The federal government will help to reduce the methamphetamine problem. I am pleased to announce that ONDCP allocated $10 million from its Congressionally-mandated discretionary funds against this drug threat. First, ONDCP will give $4 million to DEA to create national precursor and clandestine lab databases. Secondly, ONDCP will put $4.2 million into NIDA to study the physiological effects of methamphetamine. Next, ONDCP will give a million dollars to the EPA to develop clandestine lab cleanup and educational programs. Finally, ONDCP will put $700,000 into the Southwest Border Initiative to assist law enforcement officials in coordinating anti-methamphetamine activities along the border.
We must remember that with this federal assistance comes local responsibility. In America, our values, standards, and civilization are locally-based. Americans are free people who do not tolerate social engineering. We must understand that drug abuse is a local problem, and we must encourage local role models to take action. Let me give two examples.
The first is Mayor Lee Clancey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I joined her at the opening of a $14 million public safety center. She and her predecessors spent two years walking people through the old police station and jail. These leaders made the case for a bond issue to develop a treatment center and won. The second example is Claire McCaskill, Jackson County prosecutor from the COMBAT3 program in the Kansas City area. The first time COMBAT linked treatment, law enforcement, and prevention initiatives, the local political leadership had to go to the people and say, "Will you vote for this measure?" They then won the support of the people, and when the measure came up for renewal, the second vote of approval was much greater than the first. Both actions are statements of confidence that credible leadership at the local level can make a difference.
Let me close by again thanking Senator Kerrey for his leadership. There are many people on the Hill who are very serious and knowledgeable about the drug problem. Many of these leaders have spent all of their adult lives trying to reduce drug abuse. Senator Kerrey is one of them, and his leadership is instrumental in this effort.
Allow me to also thank the team that put this conference together. The ONDCP staff, and in particular, Steve Wilkins, my architect for the conference, did an outstanding job. Toba Cohen and many others on Senator Kerrey's staff did yeomen's work to make this event happen—thank you. Again, let me commend Dr. Berndt and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for their funding and assistance.
In closing, let me thank all of you. The most precious thing you have is your time, and you donated it to a learning experience for the genesis of new ideas. It was a privilege to listen to you. We will take your ideas and try to put them in action, but do not get impatient. This methamphetamine problem will respond to our efforts, but it will take a number of years. We are engaged, and we are going to put together the tools to do a better job against this drug menace. We did not get organized in the 1980s with cocaine and crack. We have an opportunity to confront this dreadful drug now, and we are going to do so. Thank you very much for your participation.
3The Community-Backed Anti-drug Tax, known as COMBAT, was approved in a November 1989 referendum in Jackson County, Missouri. It was the first jurisdiction to enact a sales tax to fund a broad-based attack against drugs. In November, 1995, 71% of the voters renewed the tax for another seven years. See NCJ publication 160937, July, 1996.
