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Demand Reduction

The DEA's Demand Reduction Program was created in 1986 in response to the widespread belief that both law enforcement and drug prevention were necessary components of a comprehensive attack against the drug problem in the United States. The goals of the DEA's Demand Reduction Program are: (1) to provide timely, accurate, and persuasive information to varieties of audiences in order to build support for effective drug enforcement; (2) to educate the public about the dangers of drugs and the effects of drug abuse on the nation; and (3) to reach community leaders, parents, teachers, counselors, and employees in the workplace in order to educate them about implementing drug prevention and education programs.

In each of the DEA's 22 field divisions, one special agent is designated as the Demand Reduction Coordinator (DRC), whose role is to provide leadership and support to local agencies and organizations as they develop drug prevention and education programs. As special agents, the DRCs bring a unique perspective to the drug prevention arena. They have a clear understanding of the overall drug situation and a broad range of experience in working with other law enforcement agencies, community leaders, educators, and employers. It is this expertise that makes the DEA Demand Reduction Program stand out from other federal agency programs that address substance abuse. The DEA's demand reduction program is also unique because it provides people instead of funding. These people are special agents and support staff with experience, commitment, and credibility that promote drug prevention and education within the community. The work of the DRCs is guided by a national strategy developed by DEA headquarters staff and a DRC Advisory Committee.

In Fiscal Year 2000, the Demand Reduction Strategy focuses on the following four main objectives: raising public awareness, providing support for parents, educating school-aged children, and establishing drug-free work environments.

Raising Public Awareness

The Demand Reduction Program is committed to establishing an aggressive program of public awareness education for community leaders. An important part of this goal is educating leaders about the current drug threat and the links between drugs, crime, and violence.

The DEA remains unequivocally opposed to legalizing drugs. Providing accurate, complete, and current information on why legalization of illicit drugs is ill-conceived and dangerous. This has become an increasingly important part of raising public awareness and also falls under the jurisdiction of the Demand Reduction program.

DRCs have designed many program activities to increase public awareness about the drug problem in the United States and ways to combat it. An example of a program activity started in 1999 is the MET II Initiative. This program helps communities that have hosted Mobile Enforcement Teams (METs) develop and implement drug and crime prevention plans to prevent the reintroduction of criminal activity. In fiscal year 1999, Demand Reduction, along with the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Crime Prevention Council, hosted three regional two-day pilot training seminars for community leaders from 40 MET cities in 23 states. At the training, the community leaders learned strategic drug and crime prevention planning models that will help them assess their communities' needs; identify their strengths, resources, and potential partners; apply a disciplined problem-solving process to the challenges they face; and evaluate their success.

DEA Demand Reduction Coordinators are maintaining contact with the community leaders who attended the MET II seminars. They provide encouragement, support, and expert advising. At least four more MET II training programs are planned for fiscal year 2000.

Providing Support for Parents

The Demand Reduction Program provides support for parents and care givers, offering them the most current research available to help protect their children and loved ones from drug abuse. Programs geared towards parents focus on educating them about the dangers of illegal drugs, heightening their awareness about emerging drug trends, and equipping them to teach children life skills and resistance education. The program activity most commonly used to support this goal is parent training. DRCs in nearly every division provide parent training for local communities. These training sessions are often done through local Boys and Girls Clubs, schools, and faith-based organizations.

Educating School-Aged Children

The DEA's Demand Reduction Program reaches millions of children and their school administrators, principals, teachers, and coaches with appropriate and specific drug education programs and materials. Demand Reduction supplies schools and other youth-based organizations with drug prevention videos and publications and provides accurate resources to school administrators to help them formulate effective anti-drug programs. In addition, the Demand Reduction program supports and assists programs offered by such organizations as Boys and Girls Clubs, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), and Law Enforcement Explorers. These programs provide productive activities for kids and reduce the risk of drug use.

An example of a Demand Reduction product used to educate school children is the creation of "Get It Straight! The Facts about Drugs," an anti-drug publication specifically designed for adolescents. Initially sponsored and distributed by the DEA and the Boys and Girls Clubs in 1996, "Get it Straight" is currently being updated to include a teacher's guide and a poster.

Establishing Drug-Free Work Environments

The DEA Demand Reduction program is committed to providing businesses with the necessary tools for establishing a drug-free work environment. Demand Reduction works to help employers understand how employee drug use can have extremely damaging effects on their businesses and organizations. Demand Reduction also works with Chambers of Commerce to provide drug-free workplace training and seminars.

An example of a product used to help achieve the goal of establishing drug-free workplaces is the creation of the booklet, "The Employer's Guidelines for a Drug-Free Workplace." In addition, plans are underway for Demand Reduction to work more closely with the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance to provide drug-free workplace seminars for local small businesses.

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