War on Drugs: The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

Publication Date: July 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

Authorization of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a multi-media federal program to persuade America's youth not to use drugs, expired at the end of FY2002. H.R. 2829 (passed by the House on March 13, 2006) and S. 2560 (reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 25, 2006) would reauthorize the media campaign, along with the other programs run by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). H.R. 5576, the House-passed appropriations bill that funds ONDCP, proposes $100 million for the campaign for FY2007. The media campaign's effectiveness has been questioned, and the program has engendered its share of controversy. Nevertheless, ONDCP, the office of the "drug czar," is optimistic that recent changes in campaign strategy will help to reduce illegal drug use by young people. This report will be updated as legislative activity occurs.