The Drug Czar Could Become A Cabinet-level Position
A new report recommends making the director ("Drug Czar") of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) a Cabinet-level position and having the office coordinate government efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis.
The report came from the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking and recommends criminal justice efforts and diplomacy to disrupt the supply of precursors used to make fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. These precursor chemicals are all coming from China and being shipped to Mexico.
The report recommends that prevention resources and access to treatment be increased in order to reduce demand for illicit substances. "Treatment programs should follow science-based best practices," the report states. The report also calls for developing surveillance and data analysis tools to more quickly discover new trends in illicit substance use.
“Through its work, the commission came to recognize the impossibility of reducing the availability of illegal synthetic opioids through efforts focused on supply alone,” the report said. “Real progress can come only by pairing illicit synthetic opioid supply disruption with decreasing the domestic U.S. demand for these drugs.”
What is the Drug Czar and the ONDCP?
The Drug Czar is a slang term used to describe the person that heads the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The current head of ONDCP is Dr. Rahul Gupta. The ONDCP was created in 1989 to provide coordination and leadership for the nation's drug control efforts. The Drug Czar is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
What could happen if the ONDCP becomes a cabinet-level position?
If the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) were to become a cabinet-level position, it would signify a significant shift in how the government tackles drug abuse. The ONDCP would be in charge of developing and implementing national drug control policies, as well as overseeing federal drug enforcement. This would give the agency more authority and resources to combat the abuse of drugs, and would likely result in more effective and efficient drug policy. This would be a great move to combat drug addiction in the United States.