When was the first national drug control strategy published?

The National Drug Control Strategy outlines our efforts to reduce illicit drug use and its consequences in the United States. Science has shown that a substance use disorder is not a moral failing but rather a disease of the brain that can be prevented and treated. Informed by this basic understanding, the annual Strategies that followed have promoted a balance of evidence-based public health and safety initiatives, including:

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2016 National Drug Control Strategy
2015 National Drug Control Strategy
2014 National Drug Control Strategy
2013 National Drug Control Strategy
2012 National Drug Control Strategy
2011 National Drug Control Strategy
The Obama Administration's Inaugural Strategy (2010 National Drug Control Strategy)
Archived Strategies

Preventing drug use in our communities;
Seeking early intervention opportunities in health care;
Integrating treatment for substance use disorders into health care and supporting recovery;
Breaking the cycle of drug use, crime, and incarceration;
Disrupting domestic drug trafficking and production;
Strengthening international partnerships; and
Improving information systems to better address drug use and its consequences.

The Strategy emphasizes the Administration’s commitment to confronting the prescription drug misuse and heroin epidemic. Beyond its function as a guide for shaping drug policy, the Strategy is a useful resource for anyone interested in learning what is being done—and what other work can be done— to stop drug production and trafficking, prevent drug use, and provide care for those with substance use disorders. For parents, teachers, community leaders, law enforcement officers, elected officials, ordinary citizens, and others concerned about the health and safety of our young people, the Strategy is a valuable tool that not only informs but also can serve as a catalyst to spark positive change.

2016 National Drug Control Strategy

2015 National Drug Control Strategy

2014 National Drug Control Strategy

2013 National Drug Control Strategy

2012 National Drug Control Strategy

2011 National Drug Control Strategy

The Obama Administration's Inaugural Strategy (2010 National Drug Control Strategy)

Archived Strategies

NDARC Monograph No. 27 (1996)

In April 1985, following a special Premier's Conference on drugs, the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) was established. NCADA aimed to provide a national framework for minimising the harmful consequences of drug use, actively encouraging liaison across all jurisdictions. A major strength of the campaign was that it provided a basis for consultation and cooperation among health, education and law enforcement agencies. Following two reviews in 1988 and 1991 the Campaign evolved into the National Drug Strategy (NDS).

The strategy document described aims, principles and strategies for work in each of four main areas:

Education and training
Treatment and rehabilitation
Research and information
Controls and enforcement

It is now ten years since the launch of NCADA. To commemorate this anniversary, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) in conjunction with the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health decided that the 1995 NDARC Annual Symposium should focus on the achievements of NCADA and reflect on the impact this revolutionary campaign has had. The symposium was therefore called National Drug Strategy: The First Ten Years and Beyond.

The two day symposium was held at the Landmark Hotel at Potts Point and invited a variety of speakers from around Australia to reflect on what we have learnt over the past ten years.

The symposium was opened by keynote speakers Professor Jim Rankin, Acting Director of the Drug and Alcohol Directorate and Professor Ian Webster Director of the Division of Public Health, South Western Area Health Service, who gave an overview of the last ten years under the National Campaign and briefly looked towards the future. Following on from this introduction, the two day program was broken up into 10 sessions, each one examining a particular area of the National Drug Strategy. These sessions included the following areas: patterns of drug use, drug-related problems, intensive treatment and intervention and contribution of research to policy.

This monograph contains twenty seven of the papers presented at the Eighth NDARC Annual Symposium, held on November 23-24, 1995.

The papers are presented as provided by the authors. Details of the affiliation of each author are provided and we suggest they be contacted for further information.