White House Releases Outline of National Drug Control Strategy for 2022 

The White House released an outline of the National Drug Control Strategy on Thursday to prevent drug overdoses, reduce rates of untreated addiction and prevent drug trafficking. 

According to a fact sheet from the administration, in the last 12-month period drug overdoses have claimed 106,854 lives. 

The strategy calls for federal agencies to integrate harm reduction into the U.S. health care system and separately in prisons, and expand access to evidence-based treatments that can reduce overdose risk and mortality.

To develop better drug policies, the strategy aims to gather data on consumption patterns, drug use consequences, and transportation and distribution by drug trafficking organizations. 

The strategy also instructs law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels to reduce synthetic drug production and thwart transnational crime. 

Some criminal organizations use darknet markets and virtual assets to launder funds, such as Black-Market Peso Exchanges and mirror transfers via informal networks, according to White House officials. 

The president’s FY23 budget request includes $300 million for Customs and Border Protection, and a $300 million increase for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The strategy also directs federal agencies to expand efforts to prevent substance use among school-aged children and young adults by supporting community-led coalitions implementing evidence-based prevention strategies. 

Further research will examine pathways to recovery and remission, how to eliminate barriers, increase economic opportunities and advance racial equity for things like medication for opioid use disorder programs in jails and prisons.

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