US to boost spending on drug prevention, treatment: official
WASHINGTON — The United States plans to increase spending on prevention of illegal drug use 13 percent to 5.6 billion dollars in 2011, reflecting a shift in priorities, the US drug…
WASHINGTON — The United States plans to increase spending on prevention of illegal drug use 13 percent to 5.6 billion dollars in 2011, reflecting a shift in priorities, the US drug czar said Monday."There's a shift in resources that reflects a new intensity in prevention and treatment," said Gil Kerlikowske, head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.He made the announcement at a bilateral meeting Tuesday and Wednesday with Mexico to discuss on strategies for reducing illegal drug use in the United States.The United States has proposed a 15 billion budget to combat drugs, but Kerlikowske said the share that will go to fight drug use will rise 13 percent to 5.6 billion dollars.One approach that Kerlikowske said would not be discussed at the meeting was decriminalization of drug possession, which has been proposed by some experts and a group of former Latin American presidents."Legalization isn't a subject under discussion under the Obama administration under any circumstances," he said, insisting that such proposals do not hold up "under the thinnest veil of scrutiny." Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
last modification 2010-02-23 00:45:17
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