LAUNCHING THE NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY: Today, President Trump’s Drug Czar Sara Carter released the National Drug Control Strategy. The Strategy is a road map for the United States to defeat the scourge of illicit drugs and achieve a safe and healthy America, where a drug-free life is the prevailing norm.

STOPPING THE FLOW OF ILLICIT DRUGS INTO AMERICAN COMMUNITIES: President Trump stemmed the flow of drugs into our country by taking back our borders and executing kinetic strikes against narcoterrorists. The Strategy builds on this success to stop illicit drugs and precursor chemicals from entering the U.S. at every point of entry, whether it be land, sea, air or mail.

• Expands capacity for detection of illicit drugs using technology.
• Expands and formalizes joint operations through the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) and enhances border security through Department of War support.
• Improves investigation and prosecution of domestically distributed illicit and unregulated substances. 
• Increases intelligence-driven interdictions of precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment.

FIGHTING AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FOREIGN TERRORIST THREATS: President Trump has launched a decisive, historic, and relentless offensive against the narcoterrorists poisoning Americans. The Strategy continues this offensive to dismantle the cartels’ multibillion dollar criminal enterprises fueled by death and destruction.

• Fully resources and empowers HSTFs for enterprise investigations.
• Targets and dismantles online drug trafficking.
• Levies financial sanctions and prosecutes money launderers.
• Uses intelligence to disrupt cartel activity, target leadership, and destroy Transnational Criminal Organizations.

SECURING THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS: The Strategy defends international supply chains from being used as a pipeline to transport finished drugs that are poisoning communities and the precursor chemicals used to make them.

• Strategically progresses bilateral counterdrug initiatives and international partnerships to advance U.S. counterdrug priorities.
• Expands participation in trusted trade programs and imposes consequences on designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations that facilitate illicit drug production and trafficking.

RECOGNIZING THE HEALING POWER OF FAITH: The United States is, and will always be, one nation under God. Over two-thirds Americans affiliate with a religion, and for the first time, the Strategy is grounded in the healing power of faith for those suffering from drug addiction. Faith has proven profoundly effective for many recovering from drug addiction and embracing the power of faith has the potential to help millions of Americans achieve recovery.

• Ensures access to faith-based prevention and recovery programs.
• Builds capacity for addiction treatment by closely partnering with faith-based organizations.
• Partners with faith leaders and communities to stand united against drug use and bring hope and support to those who suffer from addiction.

BRINGING HELP AT ALL STAGES OF ADDICTION TO THE MAINSTREAM: Through the Great American Recovery Initiative, President Trump and his Administration have begun a national response to save lives, restore families, and strengthen our communities. The Strategy further advances these efforts to make treatment more accessible than drugs.

• Enhances and supports evidence-based early intervention efforts, education, and awareness.
• Ensures treatment for addiction to all types of drugs.
• Expands and enhances the nation’s peer support services workforce and organizational infrastructure, and increases the number of state and local recovery-ready workplace programs.

DEFINING CURRENT AND EMERGING DRUG THREATS: The Strategy enhances the acquisition and timely use of accurate data to stay ahead of emerging threats, while also ensuring government programs are transparent, accountable, and most of all, effective.

• Modernizes and integrates public safety and public health data collection.
• Leverages advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze current and anticipated future threats.
• Informs the American people about the drugs hurting their communities, by rapidly disseminating actionable warnings and guidance.
• Implements wastewater testing for the first time at a national scale to obtain accurate, near real-time data on illegal drug use.

CREATING A DRUG-FREE AMERICA AS A SOCIAL NORM: America’s citizens are our most precious resource. Protecting them from illicit drugs and teaching healthy living through primary prevention are essential to defeating the drug crisis and building a strong future.

• Recommends effective primary prevention programs and increases the implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies.
• Establishes new partnerships with organizations that support healthy youth and expand primary prevention.
• Supports a national media and education campaign that reinforces a drug free America as the social norm.
• Supports and enhances the Federal drug-free workplace program as a model for a safe and drug free work environment with opportunities for early intervention and recovery.

STRENGTHENING RESCUE AND OVERDOSE RESPONSE: Overdose response is no longer the end of the story, but the beginning of recovery.

• Increases the availability of naloxone and development of new drug overdose reversal medications.
• Updates overdose response and rescue training.
• Establishes a standardized approach to responding and reporting on mass overdose clusters.
• Improves rapid drug testing in hospital settings, which allows providers and patients to know which drugs were ingested and leads to better treatment outcomes.