The National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan
Fact Sheet

The President's National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan is a roadmap for meeting the challenges posed by synthetic and pharmaceutical drugs. The Action Plan provides an overview of recent trends in the consumption and trafficking of methamphetamine, diverted pharmaceuticals, Ecstasy, and other synthetic drugs, and outlines a balanced approach focused on four core areas: prevention, treatment, regulation of chemicals and drugs, and law enforcement.

Key Recommendations from the National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan

• Prevention

  • Develop an early warning and response system to detect the emergence of new drugs and trends.
  • Develop best practices to assist drug-endangered children, including protocols for reporting, information sharing, and confidentiality; safety procedures for children, families, and responding personnel; and medical care.
  • Improve education and training on pharmaceuticals. Facilitate the wider dissemination and completion of approved Continuing Medical Education courses for physicians who prescribe controlled substances, and ensure product labels clearly articulate the safety issues associated with pharmaceuticals.
  • Research and develop targeted prevention programs, tailored to meet the needs of high-risk groups or communities.
  
  
  

• Treatment

  • Increase treatment capacity for synthetic and diverted pharmaceutical drug addiction in community and correctional facilities. Particular emphasis will be on including follow-up services that address the protracted recovery period associated with methamphetamine dependency.
  • Increase research on the physical and psychological effects of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, as well as on the development of effective treatment programs.
  • Expand dissemination of treatment best practices as part of the overall effort to increase access to effective care for dependencies on synthetic and diverted pharmaceutical drugs.
  • Develop guidelines for treating juveniles with synthetic drug dependencies—a population that is often inadequately served in existing treatment programs designed for adults.
  
  
  

• Regulation of Chemicals and Drugs

  • Enable import controls on bulk ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, similar to post-importation processing of Schedule I and II controlled substances.
  • Support stronger state controls on precursor chemicals than those currently in place at the federal level, particularly in states with high levels of clandestine lab activity and chemical diversion.
  • Strengthen the international chemical control system to make existing multilateral chemical controls more universal, formal, and well-supported by international institutions, including UN-based bodies.
  • Work with manufacturers to reformulate frequently abused pharmaceutical products.
  
  
  

• Law Enforcement

  • Strengthen controls on Internet sales by prohibiting the dispensing of controlled substances online without a valid prescription.
  • Increase investigation and prosecution of Internet-based synthetic and pharmaceutical drug diversion and sales.
  • Ensure adequate funding resources for clandestine lab and dumpsite cleanups, so that cleanup costs are not a disincentive to investigations or takedowns.
  • Enhanced, target enforcement against diversion of OxyContin and Vicodin.

A newly-formed Synthetic Drugs Interagency Working Group, co-chaired by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Department of Justice, will be responsible for implementing the Action Plan's recommendations.

A complete copy of the National Synthetic Drugs Action Plan is available at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

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Last Updated: October 25, 2004