The national strategy seeks to follow through the government’s commitment to develop a drug policy that is holistic and inclusive as possible. This enables it address the divergent issues of drug use, addiction, public health and safety. The policy seeks to demonstrate that addiction is a disease of the brain that can be amicably prevented with proper procedures and evidence-based strategic approaches for drug policy reform. The National Drug Policy is committed to creating a healthier, safer and more prosperous population through effective prevention, early intervention and recovery for individuals who have fallen into the trap of drug addiction. Such individuals seize to be productive and the country losses a lot from such unproductive labor. Research has shown that many American youths have been influenced by their peers and dragged into drug abuse. Such jeopardizes the agendas of the state that is focused on threatening the economy and instead lose out of potential labor force to illicit drugs and alcohol.
The administration observed the International Overdose Awareness Day in August with the core objective of educating the addicts and the public. On this day, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sought to avail an Opioid Overdose Toolkit with information on overdose prevention, treatment and the recovery procedures for individuals who happen to be their first indulgence or experience with substance abuse. It also promotes use of nalxone, which is an approved life-saving overdose reversal prescription. This is a clear show sign of the commitment the policy strategy has in bring about awareness to the public and educating the public on the possible intervention measures.
Another advantage from the policy is the fact that the administration has been convene a meeting of more than 100 leaders from the prevention, treatment, early intervention reforms communities so as to brainstorm on issues of national concern in as far as in as far as drug abuse is concerned. It is through such conventions and conferences that solutions are unearthed. Choosing leaders to attend the conference meeting seeks to act as a representative of a bigger population and this ensures that issues discussed get down to the comment citizen on the ground. The main goal here was to discuss innovative strategies and evidence-based approaches in order to reform the drug policy and focus more on the implantation process. This has worked in transforming the polices for drug users and reducing cases of drug abuse among the residents due to the stringent rules and policies that were being followed to the latter.
One of the core mandates of the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy is to prevent drug use before it begins in the first place. This is a positive aspect of the policy that is aimed at ensuring the young generation is not swayed away from by the high rate of substance abuse that is evident in the American society. Research has found out that drugs have been a hindrance to both the young and the adults from reaching their full potential and being depriving the society of its potential labor force at large. It is hence important to consider the policies that set up measures for to prevent new converts into the drug industry and tightening the rope for the addicts to go through the recovery process successfully -hence become productive to their families and the society.
The strategy also focused on helping the society learn on the best approach to handle drug addicts. This is very instrumental in helping them cope with the situation they have found themselves in. Teaching the society how to reduce stigma among the addicts enables them see it like any other complication of disorder. This gives them the needed team spirit and social support throughout their recovery period.
It is evident that the National Drug Control Strategy has played a very critical role in controlling drug use and substance abuse. This is a positive move by the federal government, in reforming drug policy to be more accommodative and effective in getting the expected outcome. The policy has since helped many Americans suffering from substance use disorder to access medication and hence successfully recover from their addiction. The federal government using the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy has offered to sensitize the youths to desist from drug abuse and concentrate on their education, which is the foundation for their future success. This sensitization has gone a long way in influencing the young minds with the right perspective view of life and instill in them the right morals and values
Despite the positive aspects of the policy, it has not be very effectively implemented. A lot of amendments and reforms have been done over the years but with little progress on the ground. There is need for these reforms to not only discuss its matters in the public arena but focus on the implementation. In the process of debating with other societies of a different perception about drugs, it is important to maintain high level of professionalism. Some of the comments brought forth by the administrators only work to stigmatize the victims more other the trying o help them recover from their conditions hence the need to practice tolerance, moderation and high level of professionalism. There is need to avoid some of the over-simplified debates on the matter of war on drugs so as to avoid confusing the young minds and ensuring that they only get to access the right information about disease addiction.
The concept drug use is a complex phenomenon that needs a wide a ray of evidence-based policy approach to sufficiently tackle it and get the expected results. This calls for the government and stakeholders to invest more on this program to actualize its mission to the society.
