by the National Governors’Association

About the author: The National Governors’ Association strives to support the work of the governors by providing a bipartisan forum to help shape national policy and to solve state problems.

To reduce the presence of illegal drugs, drug-related organized crime, and the adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse in society requires a comprehensive strategy involving federal, state, and local governments. This approach should include international cooperation, diplomatic initiatives, drug law enforcement, education, prevention, detoxification, client-based human services, treatment, and research.

States have devoted substantial resources toward reducing the demand for drugs and increasing the availability of treatment and testing. Treatment, prevention, and abstinence-based education are working, and the federal government should assist the states in their efforts to provide the services and programs needed to reduce drug demand. The...