Testimony for Scott Burns
Deputy Director for State, Local, and Tribal Affairs
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
May 17, 2007
Stopping Drug Use Before it Starts
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
The ONDCP’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (Media Campaign) is partnering
with the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, and the National Congress of American Indians to develop
a new public awareness campaign aimed at targeting methamphetamine use among Native
Americans. Combined, the partners have contributed $300,000 in support of this
groundbreaking effort for Indian Country. ONDCP is providing half of the funding with a
commitment of $150,000.
Before this partnership, there was no national anti-meth media campaign tailored to Indian
Country. The initial phase of the campaign will include an Indian Country specific radio and
print ad campaign. This meth initiative will build on the innovative work that the Media
Campaign has spearheaded in the past.
Prior to Congressional funding cuts in the Media Campaign’s budget, the Media Campaign
was able to devote more resources to reach Native Americans. The parent-targeted advertising
component of the Media Campaign, which includes multicultural parent advertising, was
suspended at the beginning of mid-May 2006. For FY08, the President’s increased budget
request for the campaign would enable the Media Campaign to reinstate multicultural parent
efforts.
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Since the Campaign’s inception, over $7 million has been invested in reaching American
Indian and Alaska Native audiences through research and the development and placement of
print and broadcast advertising. The advertising reflected a commitment to reaching
American Indian and Native Alaskan parents, elders and youth with drug prevention
messages that are culturally relevant and appropriate.
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Prior to the Media Campaign, there was very little research on American Indian audience
attitudes that could be used to create culturally-relevant drug prevention messages. For over
two years, the Campaign conducted research to identify the attitudes and beliefs that Native
American teens, parents and influential adults have toward drug use in their community.
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Over 400 teens, parents and elders from more than 32 tribes participated in the discussions.
The research provided vital insights for the Campaign. The findings provide input on ad
development that focus on the positive influence of elders in youth’s lives, the important role
parents can play in drug prevention, and the importance of Indian pride in keeping kids drugfree.
Drug Free Communities Support Program
ONDCP’s Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) was originally funded by
Congress in 1997 with the understanding that local problems need local solutions. The DFC
program now supports over 700 drug-free community coalitions across the United States. As a
cornerstone of ONDCP’s National Drug Control Strategy, DFC provides the funding necessary
for communities to identify and respond to local substance use problems. There are currently 18
grantees serving Native American populations across the country.
ONDCP is working to increase the number of grantees that serve this population.
ONDCP recently developed and implemented a Native American application workshop for DFC
that was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 27 and 28, 2007. More than 90 individuals
representing Native American communities attended this conference. We also held a DFC
information session and coalition workshop in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 2, 2007 that was
attended by nearly 50 individuals, many representing Native American groups. We will also be
holding a Native American coalition-building and DFC overview workshop in Tucson, Arizona,
during the last week in July.
Last Updated: May 24, 2007
