Overview
The Synthetic Drug Control Strategy is a commitment by the Administration to work toward ambitious and concrete reductions in the illicit use of methamphetamine and prescription drugs, as well as in the number of domestic methamphetamine laboratories. Specifically, the Strategy aims to reduce illicit methamphetamine use by 15% over three years, illicit prescription drug use by 15% over three years, and domestic methamphetamine laboratory seizures by 25% over three years. The baseline year for all three goals is 2005.
The fundamental principles of the Synthetics Strategy are identical to those introduced in the Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy: that supply and demand are the ultimate drivers in all illicit drug markets, and that a balanced approach incorporating prevention, treatment and market disruption initiatives (such as interdiction, arrests, prosecutions, and regulatory interventions) is the best way to reduce the supply of, and demand for, illicit drugs. Similar to the National Strategy, the Synthetics Strategy sets goals for reducing illicit drug use at a rate that approximates five percent per year.
Traditionally, Administrations have avoided promulgating strategies which relate to a specific drug or category of drugs. The Synthetics Strategy was developed for the American people due to the recognition that synthetic drugs like methamphetamine pose unique dangers, both in illicit use and production. Synthetic drugs also contain unique vulnerabilities, thus requiring a distinct strategy.
The Synthetics Strategy describes how those goals will be attained. It is both domestic and international in scope, and discusses priorities ranging from international diplomatic efforts to reduce the diversion of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine; state-led approaches to reducing domestic methamphetamine laboratories; the implementation of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005; treatment and prevention initiatives; and various regulatory tools to address the problem of prescription drug diversion and abuse.
The Synthetics Strategy is also intended as a final report on the National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan, which was released in October 2004. That document contained 46 recommendations for government action. The Synthetics Strategy reports that 45 of the 46 recommendations are either completed or ongoing (some, by their nature, were not intended to terminate at a specific point in time). The one recommendation not included in that category pertains to illicit online pharmacies, and the Synthetics Strategy recognizes the need for new Federal legislation to address the problem. The Synthetic Drugs Interagency Working Group, the interagency structure which developed the Administration’s Synthetic Drug Control Strategy, will continue to monitor and discuss the implementation of those 46 recommendations and the overall Synthetics Strategy itself.
