Demand Reduction Interagency Working Groups (IWG)

Introductory Meeting, April 2009

On April 1, 2009, ONDCP reconvened the Demand Reduction Interagency Workgroup (IWG) to help formulate long-term policy goals for increasing the Nation's focus on preventing and treating substance abuse, with a particular emphasis on informing the development of the National Drug Control Strategy and providing input into the budget guidance process for demand reduction programs.

Leadership from Federal agencies attended the first IWG meeting and collaborated to refine its role, purpose, and scope. Participants formed six subcommittees to make recommendations on a range of drug control issues. More than 150 members representing 34 Federal departments and agencies are participating in these subcommittees. The subcommittees meet monthly and make quarterly reports to the IWG.

Second Meeting, July 2009

On July 8, 2009, the IWG met for a second time, and the six subcommittees presented recommendations to Director Kerlikowske, representatives of the Vice President's Office and the Domestic Policy Council, and Federal Agency Principals. 

The following priority policy areas emerged:

• Create a National Prevention System
• Integrate Prevention and Care of Substance Use Disorders into Mainstream Healthcare
• Improve and Expand Evidence-based Specialty Care for Addiction
• Create Safe, Coordinated Managing/Monitoring Paradigms for Drug-involved Offenders
• Create a Permanent Performance Monitoring System

The Subcommittees were asked to elaborate on their recommendations in the context of these priority areas and to set timelines for deliverables.  The refined recommendations will be reviewed by the Executive Office of the President and feedback will be provided to the subcommittees.

Demand Reduction IWG Subcommittees

Emerging Threats will identify emerging drug threats—defined as drug-related threats to public health, safety, or productive life—and propose recommendations for countering those threats. The group will examine threats related to drugs which are new to the U.S. market as well as those that are re-emerging. Prescription drug abuse will be the first threat addressed by the group.

Healthcare Delivery will focus on the Administration's priority of improving healthcare quality while reducing costs. Its primary mission is to frame a comprehensive and integrated substance abuse care delivery system. For inclusion in the National Drug Control Strategy, the subcommittee will refine its objectives by prioritizing issues that can contribute to operationalizing this goal.

The Justice Systems Sub-committee will identify issues and priorities related to substance abuse in the criminal justice system.  Focus will be placed on the need for better screening and needs assessment for people entering and coming out of the criminal justice system, increasing evidence based treatment for all populations, and focusing on reducing relapse, recidivism and overall use of the substance abusing offender.

The Military, Veterans, and Their Families will focus on developing effective prevention programs for veterans and their families, active-duty military, reserves, and National Guard service members; collaborative efforts with community and faith-based organizations for service members and their families; access to effective treatment services for returning veterans; the need for standardized, relevant training for providers serving those with combat experience and other veterans issues (e.g. PTSD); and the need for continuity of care for military men and women throughout their service and civilian lives.

Performance, Accountability, and Effectiveness will contribute to the development of demand reduction elements of a performance system to address the 2006 ONDCP reauthorization requirements.  It will also assess a broad range of key data issues including determining current data sources and gaps to identify areas where modifications and/or enhancements could better serve performance analyses, program assessments, and Federal, state, and local data needs and policy development.

Prevention and Education will focus on six initial topics: developing comprehensive community interventions; grant platforms/research and practice; communications (including new media); prevention efforts along the Southwest border; workplace programs/workforce development; and defining a common prevention framework. The overarching goal is to reduce program duplication, develop a synergy among prevention efforts, and foster interagency collaboration.