Newest National Drug Plan

He is referred to as the “drug czar” for the United States. His actual title is Director of National Drug Control Policy, and his name is Gil Kerlikowske.

On July 11, 2011 he came here to Ohio to unveil the drug plan for the upcoming year. Every year there is a lot of analysis that takes place as current methods are analyzed and new ideas are hatched in the effort to stop people from taking drugs. In past years, the emphasis has been on education, law enforcement, and other tactics. Kerlikowske says that it’s not just about police catching drug dealers and throwing them into prisons. "It's continued emphasis on drug prevention, early intervention in a health care setting, and diverting non-violent offenders to treatment instead of jail."

Several of the news stories about the drug czar’s speech gave examples of people who have benefited from treatment programs. One told about a former Army Specialist named Brad White who survived all of his combat duty in Iraq, but nearly died from his treatment problems here in the USA. He was wounded there and while here he was given Oxycontin to control the pain. "I escaped death so many times from my tours, only then to almost die of my addiction. It opened my eyes," said White.

The drug addiction killed his marriage as well. He was able to enroll in the VA hospital in Cincinnati, and he began to get well. Now he is studying for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and still attending classes to fight his addiction.

Another story told about a treatment location called the Amethyst Center. It is a place where 39 women live and undergo treatment to fight their addictions. Best of all, these women are allowed to bring their children with them, instead of having to leave them with others while they strive to get well. Cindy Tondy said, “It is really imperative for me to have my children with me, because if I didn’t have them with me I would be concentrating on them instead of treatment. I am so grateful that I came all the way from New Jersey to Ohio to seek help.”

According to Virginia O’Keefe, Director of the Amethyst Center, drug treatment centers not only save lives, but they also save taxpayers money. “We save our community over $4 million dollars by keeping women out of prison, children out of foster care, women and children from seeking their health care at the emergency room, and for the drug-free babies that are delivered.”

Treatment is definitely the way to go. It may look like it costs a lot, but in the long run, it costs less.