White House ONDCP strategy targets prescription drug abuse

American Pharmacists Association, September 6, 2011

"Framing illicit drug use as a public health threat and drug addiction as a preventable and treatable disease, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has released the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy with three policy priorities: reducing prescription drug abuse, addressing drugged driving, and preventing drug use before it begins.
The 108-page drug strategy was released July 11. It is divided into seven areas, including two focused on health care—'seeking early intervention opportunities in health care' and 'integrating treatment for substance use disorders into mainstream health care and expanding support for recovery.' The details of the prescription drug abuse policy align with a White House plan issued April 19, Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis. Both the ONDCP drug strategy and the interagency epidemic plan use education, tracking and monitoring, proper medication disposal, and enforcement in their approach to prescription drug abuse, which both documents call the nation’s 'fastest-growing drug problem.'" Read More