Overview

In support of the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy), the President requests $25.4 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 to reduce drug use and its consequences in the United States. This represents an increase of $0.2 billion (0.6%) over the enacted FY 2014 level of $25.2 billion.

The Strategy represents a 21st century approach to drug policy that outlines innovative policies and programs and recognizes that substance use disorders are not just a criminal justice issue, but also a major public health concern. Decades of research demonstrate that addiction is a disease of the brain - one that can be prevented, treated, and from which people can recover. The Strategy lays out an evidence-based plan for real drug policy reform, spanning the spectrum of prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, effective law enforcement, and international cooperation.

The budget will continue to support a balanced approach that brings all sectors of society together in a national effort to improve public health and public safety. The consolidated National Drug Control Budget details agency resources by function. Functions categorize the activities of agencies into common drug control areas. Figure 1 details funding by function.

Highlights of the FY 2015 Budget by Function

Prevention

Substance use prevention is one of the Administration’s highest drug policy priorities. Federal resources totaling over $1.3 billion support education and outreach programs that are intended to discourage the use of controlled substances, while encouraging community outreach efforts focused on getting those who have begun to use illicit drugs to cease their use. This represents a 4.5 percent increase ($58.1 million) over the FY 2014 level; the major efforts are highlighted below:

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant ($364.0 million)

Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Twenty percent of the $1.82 billion Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant is the minimum set aside to support prevention services. State Substance Abuse Administering Agencies (SAA) use these funds to develop infrastructure and capacity specific to substance abuse prevention. Some SAA’s rely heavily on the 20 percent set-aside to fund prevention while others use the funds to target gaps and enhance existing program efforts.

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) ($119.8 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grants (SPF SIG) to states, tribes, and territories uses a public health approach that supports the delivery of effective programs, policies and practices to prevent substance use disorders. In FY2015, SAMHSA proposes to dedicate $10 million to a new program, the Strategic Prevention Framework Prescription Drug Abuse and Overdose Prevention (SPF Rx) that will provide funding for the prevention of prescription drug misuse and abuse in high priority age groups (including young and middle-aged adults) and populations through education and other prevention strategies. SPF Rx will support similar efforts from the Centers for Disease Control.

Education’s Prevention Efforts ($102.1 million)

Department of Education

The Department of Education is proposing new programming to support student achievement and help ensure students are mentally and physically healthy and ready to learn. The objective is to create improved school climates that reduce drug use, violence, and harassment and improve school safety and students’ physical and mental well-being. Within the program, the Department would fund grants that assist state and local educational agencies to develop and implement school climate measurement systems and targeted programmatic interventions, that help create positive school climates by supporting the best evidence-based behavioral practices for improving school climate and behavioral outcomes, and that support technical assistance activities that promote safe and healthy students.

Prevention Research ($358.1 million)

Department of Health and Human Services – National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) NIDA's prevention efforts support a program of basic, clinical, and services research on the development, testing, and translation of prevention interventions that target the initiation of drug use, and the progression to abuse and dependence. For youth, research focuses on risks for drug abuse and other problem behaviors that occur throughout a child's development, from pregnancy through young adulthood. Research funded by NIDA shows that early intervention can prevent many adolescent risk behaviors.

Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program ($85.7 million)

Office of National Drug Control Policy

The DFC Program is built upon the idea that local problems require local solutions. DFC funding provides for the bolstering of community infrastructure to support environmental prevention strategies to be planned, implemented, and evaluated in local communities across the United States, Territories and Protectorates. The DFC Program is committed to the idea that Federal “experts” can provide insight, but that local communities are the real problem solvers in America. For FY 2015, $85.7 million will fund grants made directly to over 600 community-based coalitions focusing on preventing youth substance use throughout the United States. Funding will also support the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Coalition Institute, as well as the DFC National Cross-Site Evaluation.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) ($7.0 million)

Department of Justice

The PDMP program boosts the capacity of regulatory agencies and prescribers to review prescription drug information to provide for early intervention in cases of prescription drug abuse and misuse. The program provides grant funding to states for PDMP planning, implementation, training, and technical assistance to states, and technical support regarding electronic interstate data sharing.

Drugged Driving ($2.2 million)

Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) NHTSA’s FY 2015 request supports the Drug-Impaired Driving Program, which provides public information, outreach efforts, and improved law enforcement training to help reduce drugged driving. Funding will also allow NHTSA to continue to conduct research designed to reduce the incidence of drug-impaired driving, and complete the latest roadside survey on the prevalence of drug use by drivers.

Anti-Doping Activities/World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Dues ($9.7 million)

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Anti-doping activities focus on efforts to educate athletes on the dangers of drug use, eliminate doping in amateur athletic competitions, and rely on standards established and recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Funding for both of these efforts aim to promote an increased awareness in the U.S. and internationally of the health and ethical dangers of illicit drug use and doping in sport. Funding and participation in WADA is necessary to compete in international events. These activities support state-of-the-art research within the scientific and public health communities, while striving to protect athletes’ fundamental rights to participate in drug-free sports, and thus promote the health and safety of athletes at all levels. Finally, these efforts seek to increase global coordination of anti-drug education programs, cooperation with law enforcement and investigative authorities relating to the trafficking of illicit substances, and promoting more consistent adjudication results in cases involving doping worldwide.

Treatment

Investing in treatment for substance use disorders reduces health care costs, reduces other costs to society, and saves lives. The FY 2015 Budget proposes approximately $9.6 billion in Federal funds for early intervention, treatment, and recovery services. These services focus on assisting individuals with substance use disorders to become free from the health consequences of the use of illicit drugs, including the abuse of prescription drugs. This represents an increase of 8.7 percent ($771.7 million) over the FY 2014 level. The major efforts are highlighted below:

Medicare & Medicaid‐funded Substance Abuse Treatment Services ($5,070.0 million) Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Substance abuse treatment is usually financed through a variety of public and private sources (private health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, state and local funds, and other Federal support). The Federal Government makes its largest contribution to the payment for treatment through the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The Medicaid estimate is based on Federal reimbursement to states for substance abuse treatment services. Medicare supports treatment for substance abuse in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Veterans ($696.6 million)

Department of Veterans Affairs ‐ Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

The VHA, which operates a national network of substance abuse treatment programs located in the Department’s medical centers, residential rehabilitation facilities, and outpatient clinics, provides effective, safe, efficient, recovery-oriented, and compassionate care for veterans with substance abuse disorders and mental illness.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Military Service Members/Families ($91.4 million)

Department of Defense – Defense Health Program

In support of its mission to provide medical services and support to members of the Armed Forces to keep them physically prepared for deployment, the Department of Defense (DoD) provides a comprehensive substance abuse treatment benefit to all members of the armed forces, delivered in a regional environment with a seamless worldwide continuity of care. In addition, DoD offers substance abuse treatment to all eligible beneficiaries, including military family members.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant ($1,455.9 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

This formula-based funding to states support the provision of substance abuse treatment services, providing maximum flexibility to states to respond to their local and/or regional emergent issues impacting health, public health, and public safety through a consistent Federal funding stream. Individuals who are in need of such services and have no or limited health insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services rely on services funded by the block grant. The grant also allows states to provide a range of clinical and recovery support services to clients during treatment and recovery. It also supports planning, coordination, needs assessment, quality assurance, and has set asides for HIV, program development and evaluation. Approximately 80% of this $1.82 billion program is estimated for these treatment and these other services.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) ($30.0 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

The SBIRT program, funded via Public Health Service Evaluation funds, provides grants to health care providers to intervene early in the disease process before individuals achieve dependency and to motivate the clients with substance use disorders to engage in substance abuse treatment. Grant funds will further integrate SBIRT within medical treatment settings to provide early identification and intervention to at-risk individuals within the context of their primary care provider.

Primary Care and Addiction Services Integration (PCASI) ($20.0 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

The PCASI program is a new initiative related to the integration of substance abuse treatment services and primary care, enabling providers to offer a full array of both physical health and substance abuse services to clients. Through this program, integrated teams of professionals will be able to provide needed primary care services to individuals seeking care for their substance use disorder. The goal is to improve the physical health status of adults with substance use disorders who have or are at risk for co-occurring primary care conditions and chronic diseases, with the objective of supporting the triple aim of improving the health of those with substance use disorders; enhancing the client’s experience of care (including quality, access, and reliability); and reducing/controlling the per capita cost of care.

Homeless Assistance Grants ‐ Continuum of Care ($524.5 million)

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Strategy calls for Federal support to reducing barriers to recovery from substance use disorders, including lack of housing. For persons in recovery, structured and supportive housing promotes healthy recovery outcomes. The Department’s Continuum of Care – Homeless Assistance Grants support efforts to eliminate homelessness by financing local solutions to locate, intervene, and house the homeless population. These programs are designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis.

Drug Courts ($89.9 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

Department of Justice ‐ Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

Drug courts help reduce recidivism, provide treatment to defendants and offenders with a substance use disorder, and improve the likelihood of successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially supervised treatment, mandatory periodic drug testing, community supervision, appropriate sanctions, and other rehabilitation services. HHS ($45.9 million) and DOJ ($44.0 million, funded as a part of the Problem Solving Justice Grants program) work together to enhance court services, coordination, and the substance use disorder treatment capacity of juvenile, family and adult drug courts.

Offender Re-entry Program/Prisoner Re-entry Initiative ($63.0 million)

Department of Health and Human Services ‐ SAMHSA

Department of Justice – OJP

Re-entry grants from HHS ($5.5 million) and DoJ ($57.5 million) provide screening, assessment, and comprehensive substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services for offenders reentering the community, as well as offenders who are currently on or being released from probation or parole. Re-entry programs help make communities safer, assist those returning from prison and jail in becoming productive, tax-paying citizens, and save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration.

Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Drug Treatment Efforts ($115.5 million)

Department of Justice, BOP

BOP continues to develop evidence based treatment practices to manage and treat offenders with substance use disorders. The Bureau’s strategy includes early identification of inmates entering BOP through a psychology screening. According to the severity of the disease, BOP provides drug education, treatment for those within the general population, separate intensive residential drug abuse treatment (RDAP) and community transition treatment.

Domestic Law Enforcement

Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies play an integral role in the Administration’s balanced approach to reducing drug use and its consequences. Law enforcement agencies prevent drug traffickers from extending their corrosive reach further into our Nation’s communities. Maximizing Federal support for drug law enforcement efforts is critical to leveraging limited resources. Nearly $9.2 billion in FY 2015 Federal resources are requested to support domestic law enforcement efforts (including state and local assistance, as well as Federal investigation, prosecution, and corrections), a decrease of $97.4 million (1.1%) from the FY 2014 level. The major efforts are highlighted below.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program ($193.4 million)

Office of National Drug Control Policy

The HIDTA program principally supports the enforcement aspect of the National Drug Control Strategy by providing assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug trafficking regions of the United States. The HIDTA program provides resources to these agencies in each of the 28 HIDTA regions to carry out activities that address the specific drug threats of that region. The HIDTA program plays a key role in helping to keep communities safe, and supports a place-based policy designed to increase the impact of government dollars by leveraging place-conscious planning and place-based programming. It is a regional program, locally managed, and tied to a national mission. It principally supports drug supply reduction by bringing together and providing assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug trafficking regions of the United States. However, in line with the President’s Strategy, individual HIDTAs are also increasingly involved in prevention initiatives at the local or regional level.

Methamphetamine Enforcement and Lab Cleanup Grants ($7.0 million)

Department of Justice

These grants provide assistance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in support of programs designed to address methamphetamine production and distribution. Working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), funding also supports assistance to state and local law enforcement in removing and disposing of hazardous materials generated by clandestine methamphetamine labs, and providing training, technical assistance, and equipment to assist law enforcement agencies in managing hazardous waste.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) ($43.6 million)

Department of Homeland Security

FLETC is an interagency law enforcement training facility that provides training and technical assistance to state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement entities. FLETC provides training programs in support of drug enforcement activities, focusing on advanced programs that teach and reinforce law enforcement skills of investigation. These training programs with a drug nexus equip law enforcement officers and agents with the specialized skills needed to support successful drug investigations.

Federal Drug Investigations ($3,154.2 million)

Multiple agencies

Federal law enforcement personnel (including those from the Departments of Agriculture ($11.3 million), Homeland Security ($505.1 million), Justice ($2,431.7 million), Interior ($16.4 million), and Treasury ($58.4 million) prepare drug cases for the arrest and prosecution of leaders and traffickers of illegal drug organizations, seize drugs and assets, and enforce Federal laws and regulations governing the legitimate handling, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances.

Federal Prosecution ($774.6 million)

Multiple agencies

As a consequence of illegal drug use, a number of agencies (including the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division ($41.7 million), Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program ($147.3 million), Executive Office of the U.S. Attorneys ($77.0 million), U.S. Marshals Service ($107.8 million), as well as the Federal Judiciary ($396.4 million)) conduct Federal criminal proceedings against drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The related costs include salaries for attorneys and other court personnel, defender services, judicial and courthouse security, prisoner security, and other administrative costs.

Corrections ($4,499.8 million)

Department of Justice/Federal Judiciary

Another consequence of illegal drug use, the Bureau of Prisons ($3,362.2 million), the U.S. Marshals Service ($543.0 million), and the Federal Judiciary ($594.6 million) conduct activities associated with the incarceration and/or monitoring of drug-related offenders. The request includes funding for the costs associated with inmate care, security and facility maintenance, contracted confinement, and general management and administration.

Interdiction

Bringing together partners from law enforcement, the military, and the intelligence communities, along with our international allies, the Administration works to develop technology, tactics, and procedures to address evolving smuggling trends. The budget request for interdiction efforts, which include intercepting and ultimately disrupting shipments of illegal drugs and their precursors, as well as the proceeds, totals approximately $3.9 billion in FY 2015, a decrease of $184.8 million (-4.6%) from the FY 2014 level. The major efforts are highlighted below.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ($2,189.5 million)

Department of Homeland Security

CBP supports disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations that move drugs,

weapons, and illicit proceeds into and out of the United States, by using its wide range of resources and ground, air and maritime assets to interdict and disrupt the flow of narcotics and other contraband across our Nation’s borders. CBP’s flexible narcotics interdiction efforts work to counter the constantly shifting narcotics threat at and between the ports of entry.

United States Coast Guard (USCG) ($1,205.4 million)

Department of Homeland Security

As a part of its larger mission to ensure maritime security, the USCG works to reduce the flow of illegal drugs entering the United States by denying smugglers access to maritime routes. In addition to maintaining an interdiction presence based on the availability of assets, the USCG also works to strengthen ties with partner nations to increase their willingness and ability to reduce the trafficking of illicit drugs within their sovereign boundaries.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Interdiction Support ($11.9 million)

Department of Transportation/FAA

Air traffic controllers staffing Air Route Traffic Control Centers monitor the Air Defense Identification Zones to detect possible suspicious aircraft movement. When suspicious movement is identified, the FAA notifies the DEA and USCG of such activity. Upon confirmation of suspicious aircraft movement, FAA controllers support interdiction efforts by providing radar vectors to track the time of arrival, traffic advisory information, and last known positions to intercept aircrafts of interest.

Department of Defense Drug Interdiction ($435.4 million)

Department of Defense

The Department of Defense (DoD) serves as the lead agency of the Federal Government for the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the United States. It fulfills this mission through its operation of Joint Interagency Task Forces South and West, which work to detect, monitor, and disrupt the flow of illicit traffic to the United States, as well as its intelligence collection, maritime, and air capabilities.

International

The profits from illicit drug trafficking are a powerful and corrosive force weakening the rule of law in affected countries and preventing governments from effectively reducing or containing other transnational threats such as terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, weapons trafficking, money laundering, human trafficking, and piracy. Federal international programs help facilitate the disruption or dismantlement of the most significant international drug organizations, and increase the demand reduction and drug enforcement capabilities of partner nations. The FY 2015 budget requests nearly $1.4 billion to provide a wide range of drug-control activities primarily focused on or conducted in areas outside of the United States, a decrease of $396.4 million (-22.2%) from the FY 2014 level. The decrease is primarily due to the fact that the DoD’s Overseas Contingency Operations FY 2015 request has not yet been finalized; additionally, State/USAID’s country-specific levels are in the process of being finalized, and could therefore fluctuate. The major efforts are highlighted below.

DEA’s International Efforts ($442.7 million)

Department of Justice

The focus of DEA’s international enforcement program is to disrupt or dismantle the most significant international drug and precursor chemical trafficking organizations around the world. Personnel in DEA’s foreign country offices focus their investigative efforts on the most significant international command and control organizations threatening the United States. DEA coordinates all programs involving drug law enforcement in foreign countries, and also provides intelligence to assist the interagency community in determining future trends in drug trafficking and evaluating their long-term impact. DEA works closely with the United Nations, Interpol, and other organizations on matters relating to international drug and chemical control programs.

International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Support ($458.3 million)

Department of State/Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

INL supports the Strategy by strengthening criminal justice systems, countering the flow of illegal narcotics, and minimizing transnational organized crime. In addition to traditional counternarcotics activities, such as disrupting the overseas production and trafficking of illicit drugs, INL supports the development of capable police and competent judicial officials and criminal justice systems.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ($148.6 million)

Department of State

USAID’s Alternative Development programs support the Strategy by assisting partner nations in developing viable economic alternatives to drug production. These programs focus on improving commercial agricultural production, licit job creation, and offering farmers incentives to discontinue planting poppy and other illicit crops.

DoD International Counternarcotics Efforts ($307.4 million)

Department of Defense

DoD works to address a broad array of security threats associated with illicit drug trafficking. DoD provides training, equipment, and infrastructure to help partner nations

build their capacity to address illicit trafficking and gain control of their borders and ungoverned spaces.

Performance Measurement

Performance evaluation is a key tool for ONDCP in its oversight of the National Drug Control Program agencies – it enables ONDCP to assess the extent to which the Strategy achieves its goals and account for the contributions of drug control agencies. Two laws, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-469), and the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRMA), set the framework for a range of performance requirements.

ONDCP tracks and reports performance measures and targets established for each goal and objective in the Strategy. ONDCP, in collaboration with its interagency partners, has developed a performance monitoring and assessment mechanism – the Performance Reporting System (PRS) – that monitors key performance measures to assess interagency progress toward the goals and objectives of the Strategy. The first PRS assessment will be released with the 2014 Strategy. This assessment, and follow-on assessments, will be used to inform prospective policymaking, planning, future Strategy development and implementation, and budget formulation and resource allocation.

²As the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) amounts have not yet been finalized, this amount includes FY 2015 base budget resources only. ³The estimates for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reflect Medicaid and Medicare benefit outlays for substance abuse treatment; they do not reflect budget authority. The estimates were developed by the CMS Office of the Actuary.

⁴Includes budget authority andfunding through evaluation set-aside authorized by Section 241 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

⁵The USCG budgets by appropriation rather than individual missions. The USCG projects resource allocations by mission through use of an activity-based costing system. Actual allocations will vary depending upon operational environment and mission need.

⁶State Department amounts include funding appropriated or requestedfor overseas contingency operations.

⁷VA Medical Care receives advance appropriations; FY 2015funding was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law No: 113-76).