Demand Reduction

Federal Initiatives

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides funding for prevention (and treatment) research. In the past few years, NIDA has supported research on prevention of escalation from early drug use to regular use, prevention of abuse and addiction, and the role of primary health care professionals in drug abuse prevention. NIDA also funds basic research related to prevention, such as understanding the neuro-biological consequences of environmental Stressors during childhood and adolescence as they pertain to drug use and addiction. This type of research might investigate chemical changes in the brains of young animal subjects that occur in response to a stressful situation (e.g., abuse) and the relationship between these chemical changes and chemical changes that result from drug craving. NIDA has also produced a guide on preventing drug use among children and adolescents.

The Office of Justice Programs in the Department of Justice has administered the Underage Drinking Prevention Program, a grant program for states to support efforts to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors and the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors. However, the president's budget has recommended the elimination of this program every year since 2004. Up to this time, Congress has ignored this recommendation and maintained this program.

The U.S. Department of Education has had two substance abuse prevention programs: the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) state grants and the SDFSC national programs. The SDFSC state grant funds are given to governors (20%) and state educational agencies (80%). The state educational agencies are required to distribute 93% of the funds to local education agencies (i.e., school districts) for a wide variety of activities to prevent or reduce violence and delinquency and the use, possession, and distribution of illegal drugs.

...