Conclusion
Substance abuse treatment works. Recovery from methamphetamine addiction is possible. Accumulating evidence indicates that illicit drug use in America is reduced by balanced, consistent, and coordinated efforts of Federal, State, and local governments. This approach is as relevant to addressing methamphetamine as it is to other illicit drugs. Effective prevention and treatment programs such as student drug testing, SBIRT, and drug courts that incorporate evidence-based strategies reduce the burden of methamphetamine and other abused drugs. The individual benefits from reduced drug use, improved physical (reduction in infections and HIV seropositivity) and mental health, employment, family relationships, reduced mortality, crime, reduced re-arrest rates. Society also benefits as the burden diminishes to each component (medical, legal, social services, business, transportation, and educational institutions). Effective prevention and treatment programs can also have a major impact on reducing health care costs, and a host of other costs borne by tax-payer. These programs are making significant progress in reducing demand for dangerous drugs such as methamphetamine and will be described in further detail by my esteemed colleagues.
We recognize the need for constant vigilance and innovative strategies to address drug use trends. Each component of American society needs education on the harmful consequences of methamphetamine and other drugs, to stigmatize use and to heal the drug-diseased user. Our national strategies are flexible and adaptable to address emerging drug threats, including methamphetamine and prescription drugs. We have undertaken the responsibility to support and encourage effective prevention programs and treatments, with the ultimate objective of eradicating drug use and its consequences in our nation.
Thank you again for the opportunity to present an overview of the Federal government’s prevention and treatment responses to methamphetamine. I welcome questions from the Subcommittee on reducing the demand for methamphetamine in the United States through prevention and treatment programs.
