white house. gil is here to talk about the administration's drug policy which was announced just a few weeks ago. we look forward to hearing gil's perspective on these important issues and how he has transformed the policy of the obama administration. 40 year ago, president nickson declared that drug abuse was public enemy number one. that declare ration launched the costliest wars. the united states treated drug abuse as a moral failure and fought it through arrests and incarceration. as a result the u.s. now has the highest rate of incarceration in the world at a dear cost to state and federal budget and at a time when those budgets are very con trained. -- constrained. the human cost of the so-called war on drugs is more tragic

still to the families and communities that have not gotten the support they need to overcome drug abuse. it's so important that we have gil who has a long history in law enforcement championing the message of ensuring that we address this from a public health percent speckive. as gil has said the administration recognizes we are not powerless against the challenge of substance abuse. people can recover and millions are in recovery. the administration has laid out a policy to speed and improve that process which gil is here to discuss. shifts in funding which have seen more money spent in the last three years in drug education and treatment than on drug law enforcement. that's a critical and important issues. progressives have been arguing for a reba lansing in the so-called war on drugs and making it more of a public

health issue and we've really seen that we're championed by gil. so it is my honor to introduce gil kerlikowske who knows how critical this effort is. he brought 37 years of experience. he has served nine years as the chief of police for seattle, washington and has reduced crime in 40 years. he's been a champion of innovative strategies to reduce crimes, working within communities dealing with the leadership of different communities to ensure that police are work k in partnership with communities to reduce crime. he was elected twice to the major city chiefs which combines the law enforcement in united states and canada. we're very excited to have gil here to talk about new strategy to address this important issue. [applause]

>> good morning, everyone. it's nice to see you. it's nice to be here at this center. first let me thank the executive director neera tanden and her staff for making this happen. it's a real good opportunity to talk about this recently released national drug control strategy. well, let me start by sharing a concern that i think many of us in public health and safety community share about drug policy. over the past few years, this public debate on drug policy lurches between two extreme views. let me characterize those views for you. on the one side, we have a very vocal, organized, well funded advocates who insist that drug legalization is a silver bullet for addressing our nation's drug problems.

on the other side of the debate are those who insist that a law enforcement war on drugs approach the one that was just mentioned is the way to create a drug-free society. you know, if only we could spend more money on prisons and enforcement and increase arrests and seizures of drugs that logic goes, the drug problem would at some point just go away. the obama administration strongly believes that neither of these approaches is human, they're not compassionate, not realistic, probably most importantly they are not grounded in science. the approach is also do not acknowledge the complexity of our nation's drug problem will reflect what science has shown us over the past two decades. whenever you can put the answer on a complex problem on a bumper sticker, you know you probably don't have much of and answer. that's why two weeks ago we released the national drug

control policy and it pursues a third way for our nation to approach drug control. this is a 21st century approach to drug policy. it's progressive, it's innovative, evident's based and it represents what we believe is the way ahead to drug policy. i was glad to see the "60 minutes" piece featuring laura walcof and the piece really showed the institute's ground breaking work in the science of addiction reflecting what we've learned about the disease and highlighted the future direction of drug policy. you know, in fact, nida the national institute of drug abuse is the source of 85% of the world's research on drug abuse. we could not be more proud of that. and i recommend that all of you take a few minutes to watch that "60 minutes" piece. and if you haven't already, that link is -- to the video is on our twitter feed at ondcp.

let me just take a moment to state the extent of the challenges and why our policies, i think could not come at a more important time. today, more americans are dying from drug-induced deaths than from any other form of injury death including traffic crashes and gun shot wounds. while making matters worse drug use among young people is increasing while youth perceptions of harm regarding some drugs are weakening. and apart from its impact on the health and safety, our nations drug problems also continues to place obstacles in the way of our economic prosperity. well, just last year the department of justice released data that the health, workplace and criminal justice cost of drug abuse to american society tolled $193 billion and that's using 2007 data.

contributing to the immense cost are the millions of drug offender who are under the supervision of the criminal justice system. and for states and localities across the country which is where the vast majority of this work gets done, the costs of managing this system has grown significantly. these facts under score the need for a different approach to drug policy, one that treats drug addiction as a disease and promotes a criminal justice system where drug related crime is addressed in a fair and equitable manner. simply put, all of my colleagues say one thing repeatedly and they say we cannot arrest our way out of the drug problem. they that's why we're taking actions to reform our public, health and safety system so that we can learn to learn the signs of drug addiction and intervene before it becomes a criminal justice issue. before i talk about the approach, let me take a moment

to give you some facts just about how we have accomplished these changes in reforming the system and trying to restore, trying to restore balance to a drug policy over the last three years. well, in 2010, president obama signed the fair sentencing act into the law. it was the first time in four decades that a mandatory minimum drug law has been rolled back. and this was and important and long overdo criminal justice reform. and it dramatically reduced the 101 disparity between powder and crack cocaine that dispo portion natly affected minorities. during the pags three years we havepast three years we have spent $31 million to support treatment programs more than on law enforcement. to break the cycle we have worked to avert drug offenders through treatment instead of

jail. there are now more than 2600 of these specialized courts across the nation diverting 120,000 people annually. when i had the great opportunity to work for janet reno and we had one drug court in miami to see the expansion to 2,600 is amazing. and to see a member in seattle, changes that are made were absolutely heartening. whenever someone tells me that government doesn't listen or that government taxpayer dollars are being wasted in this area, i just ask them to go and attend a drug corps graduation. if you're not moved and not motivated by that graduation, well, you have a pretty cold heart. during the past three years, we've spent this money to increase a number of programs that support education and treatment. and to break the cycle of drug

and use and crime, we have put into place policies and procedures that help intervene early. we provided more than $370 million through funding in drug-free community programs to coalitions made up of organizers working to prevent drug use among teens. those grass roots efforts are important. and they're backed up with evaluation and research that shows that young people have been exposed to those programs are more resistant to using drugs than those who haven't. recognizing that drug use is a public health issue, the obama administration released the first ever national prevention strategy which calls for eliminating health disparities and increasing education. wole, to help lift the stigma that's associated with drug addiction and to support the

millions of american who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, we created the first recovery branch here at the white house office of national drug control policy. and nationally we've devoted more than $1.2 billion during the past three years to alternative development programs. they provide economic incentives and they have increased security to farmers and drug producing regions of our hemisphere. well, three years ago, the obama administration became the first in history to lift the long standing federal band on needle exchange programs. unfortunately, congress has reinstated that bill through and appropriations bill. but the strategy builds on this record of drug policy reform and outlines more than 100 specific actions that will realign the way we deal with our nation's drug problem. i encourage you to take a look at that document and i

encourage you to take a look at those action items which spread across on the drug policy and the complexities dealing with it. it includes support programs. networks help recognize the signs and symptoms of drug addiction early. i wouldn't be a good federal employee if i couldn't make and acronym for that. so esper is that acronym. if you think about it, most people get to see a health care professional about once a year. and in that confidential setting, hopefully that health care professional through esper and other programs will have the tools and the information that they need to make and accurate assessment regardless of why that person is visiting that health care professional, to make that accurate assessment of whether there's a

substance abuse problem. we know that if they ask the right questions and we know that if people trust their health care professionals that perhaps and intervention can be started early of we know that early interventions can work better. we know that early innovations are more cost effective. so these are important issues around the health care area. well, the strategy we just released builds on the record of drug policy reform. it outlines a number of these important actions. and it's really important, think that all of us recognize again when i went through this how it helps us to frame and understand the complexity of the drug problem. let me give you another what i think is and excellent example and that's the affordable care act. it is revolutionary because for the first time it makes drug treatment a required benefit for all americans who suffer from substance abuse disorders. it's important, of course, for

another reason because it helps to put drug policy initiatives that are in the health care system, not in a specialty and not in a sileo but in the primary care area. the strategy emphasizes the importance of bowlsters efforts to prevent drug use before it ever starts. what and innovative idea, good prevention. but it's very difficult to get funding and support for prevention. we support for instance the national use anti-drug media campaign and the drug-free community support program. these programs help ensure every new young generation of young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential free from drugs. as i have that great opportunity on behalf of the president or travel around the country, listen to high school students and parents, it drives that point every week as i meet

with people about how important it is to this future generation. recognizing that law enforcement do remain a vital part of our drug policy, the strategy supports programs that target violent national organizations. you have to continue to reform the criminal justice system also through the innovative programs such as reentry programs, characterized by the second chance act. it also continues to support unprecedented everies by providing support to ex-oric levels of personnel, technology, infrastructure that have been deployed and that are strengthening and we're also strengthening those international relationship. these are important and they're

innovative programs that are taken hold across america. the local community is where i spent the fast majority of my career. "the wall street journal" brought attention to some of these programs and and essay by mark clyman, jonathan hawkins and angela hawkins. this piece argued that there is no quick fix to the complex issue of drug abuse and prevention. and we agree. these experts pointed to the success of programs such as the drug markets. they offered drug offenders a second chance. and they offer them a second chance before they're ever arrested, before they ever get that record against them. another one, hawaii's hope. probation program that reduces sentences through swift and and

predictable immediate sanctions. also and probably most importantly building community. let me close by saying there is real reason to be optistic that it will reduce both drug use and its consequences in society. there's a long time police sfish, police chief. my profession isn't noted for a lot of optimism. but in fact, i would tell you that cynicism often comes with it. during these three years that i've looked at the changes across this country and the way we think about and address and deal with our nation's drug problem, i am optimistic. but the recent data also supports that optimism. meth and cocaine use are down dramatically. let me repeat that. meth and cocaine use in america

are down dramatically. since 2006 cocaine use in america was declined by 40%. meth use was down by half. and survey show that despite few year uses of some drugs, well, young people are abusing prescription drugs. we know from the moster cent evaluation the drugs courts not only save money but they're also effective. last year for the four times in four decades the state prison population declined. i believe we're on the right track to reduce the consequences of drug use and drug trafficking. with that, i think i've prepared well for questions. i went out and had a root canal a couple of weeks ago. so i wanted to be well prepared. thank you.

thank you all. [applause] we will take -- i'm going to ask some questions. and then we'll be taking questions from the audience. so if you could write out your questions and write them as legibly as possible and identify yourself, that would be very helpful. ok. thank you. thank you so much for your remarks. i'll start without a few questions before i get them from the audience. you say the war on drugs does not address the complexity of the drug program. why do you say that? >> i think the war on drugs is sold to the american people that we're actually going to win this. our goals which are very well stated and the president's strategy are very clear about reducing drug use and the importance of using drug use across all levels, whether it's with youth or our horrible prescription drug problem, whether it's reducing drug

driving which is another issue that's out there. and most recently we're dealing with our synthetic drug problem. these are all important. and when we call it a war on drugs we don't give it the emphasis and the focus and frankly at times the resources that are needed to deal with what really is a very complex public health and education and criminal justice problem. so we would really like to ban that phrase as much as possible.

>> and then when you talk about this as a public health issue and moving it from, you know, a war metta for towards a public health issue, obviously, that means move it towards treatment as opposed to incarceration. what are the other steps that you're taking from your vantage point to ensure -- to really tease that idea pro vention and public health. >> and i think that's exactly right. one of the three signature initiatives that we put into place was to deal with prevention. prevention doesn't get the level of support and understanding. i guess my experience as a police chief would tell you

that. no one patted me on the back and seau guys are doing a great job preventing crime. it was always about how fast did you react. did you get somebody's property back. when prevention is the key and we know that prevention could work, what we kind of failed to recognize also is that the research and the information around prevention has really increased demons traably over the last couple of decades. prevention programs can be very cost effective. people often don't think that their kids listen to their parents and in fact the research does tell you that the kids do listen to their parents but they alsos listen to trusted messengerers, coaches, teachers, law enforcement officials and others. and if the message being given to the young person isn't one about a scare tactic and it's more here's information to help you make good decisions to be in control. i think that's absolutely critical. we just failed to give the attention to prevent as we should but even this new national prevention strategy, chaired by the surgeon general really talks about how improvements can be gained. certainly the drug addiction is and area that is in need of that. >> are prevention dollars being threatened at the state and local levels? >> i do. on the one hand. i have not met with the governor or state legislator. they have not looked at trying to reduce costs particularly in the criminal justice area. one of the concern i had was that as they reduce costs that

they need to be cognizant of the fact that those cost savings needs to be put back into the after car services. they need to be put back into treatment behind the walls. people need to get back into housing. that's why i was so impressed with secretary sean don van and his letter. every public housing authority, administrator in the country said there are some months as to when you can get back to public housing. there are restrictive rules that are not grounded in law. these are all important issues when we think how we're going to deal with this in a more holistic way. >> one argument that i think resonates possibly more now than it has in the past is arguing that prevention and disagreement be more cost effective. are you seeing -- some

governors may not have been receptive to them do you think the conversation has shifted in the state? in communities themselves. >> i think the communities understand that. they return back to their same numbers. so the people understand it. and if the people leave, sometimes elected officials will follow along. >> imets. i will tell you that i have never been more pofleful talking to criminals let me give you one example. he carved out 15 million out of his very tough state budget to increase treatment programs. i think he understands it well. from his background, i think he understands it quite well also. because his son is a drug court

judge. >> oh, interesting. >> that is interesting. >> i'll just give oneer or two more questions and we'll take questions from the audience. >> the president made a distinction between large dispensaries and cover. many people ask questions in these tough decisions. do you have any comments on that distinction. >> on the medical marijuana issue, i mean the president made it very clear. the department of justices roll in enforcement federal law. they understand that limited resources would not be used against people who have been described or they can't be

predescribed or recommended. marijuana. but as he said, i never gave cart lanch to grow up operations and those kinds of things. and i think perhaps people thought that things would be a bit different. in fact, federal slaw what federal law. is >> this is from arena alexander. as a young activists. can you tell me what i can do that congress reinstate this spending? >> i need needle exchange plams be helpful. this goes back to the debate that i try to characterize almost exactly in the beginning. that means that more people will be increased to use or continue to use. you know, i spent a lot of time

in this business. i've never met someone who's addicted to drugs. i'm more in cline to to congress. on the other hand, the needle exchange programs help reduce issue around infectious disease. when those programs are in operation, they also provide information about treatment programs and perhaps when that person is there, it may be the right time in their life that they're getting the information about a treatment program and i think that's what we would like to see. whitney, mas? >> in light of the summit of the americans what is your opinion on the countries. what immact do you see the either of these scenarios having drug flow to the u.s. and in consumption. >> i think we've seen a lot of things both before and during

the commit of americans particularly before by some central american leaders. i think president santos, certainly understanding this issue very, very well. he looked like a middle of the road approach. incarcerating vast numbers of people is probably not and answer. and so looking at these policies and the believe the president and the vice president have both advocated for a strong review of the policies. let's look at the success in columbia. i don't know who doesn't give high marks for their improvements. for the reduction in coca. planting and when i visited. a group of people who >> both farming fish and also

growing sugar cane in the area. he said i might have had a little more money in my pocket but she was always afraid of criminals coming in, terrorizing his family. he said to have this steady income. they are strongly sponsored and supported of i.d. he said it's better for my family and the security of my value ladge. so good changes. >> this is the marijuana project. as you know or must know as and expert on subs stance abuse. given that volume causes far more deaths. if that is what they prefer.

>> so i think the issue gets around in debate. >> so certainly nobody's going to roll a block back and say we need to institution pro hi gigs on control. but there are no good reasons to legalize marijuana. i often hear about tax regulated and then i look at prescription drugs which is whey mentioned take over 15,000 lives let along and the number of people are treated. prescription drugs are already taxed, regulated, and controlled. and we do a very por more job. so i don't see that we would do a very good job with the

substance, that can easilyer fade the tax keep. because it doesn't take procket science to grow. and i think -- i've become concerned. if i look back and it was sold -- reduce violence, fix your economy. reduce the vast amount of criminal justice and on and on i kind -- perhaps there wasn't as much truth in all of those claims for legalizing marijuana as had been released. >> anthony wilson from the american house line. why has it taken so long for the photograph government

>> i think we don't speak to the right audience. and i think if you're a federal researcher. or if you're a researcher. you speak to other medical groups. you don't speed to the american public. if you would have asked me not that many years before getting this job of about the disease of addiction. i said, look, this is a moral failure. people just need to find god. they need to pull themselves by their bood straps. a lot of reading and some understanding to realize that this is a chronic diagnose but purely treatable disease that we showleds be looking at from a much greater. i'm a police chief who talks

about education and public health. >> neil franklin from leap. as a 33-year-old veteran, i have arrested hundreds of people. we cannot do that. we arrested 1.6 million drug offendsers every year. what's -- i think what isn't in having a law enforcement background, people don't quite understand that the vast majority of this employment and work is done at the state and local level. not by the federal lovet. the changes that i'm seeing across the country, for incarceration. it is important -- i think one of the other things that's kind of helpful is that it's a police chief for those that

would have talked about this a few years ago. you would have been characterized as being soft on drugs or soft on crime. >> with 37 years as being soft on either of those things and so a policy that begins to say there are other alternatives. there are ways to reduce some of this particular. i think the national drug control stray ji affects how to federal agent ises do that. it doesn't talk about science. but there's a science that has been well conducted in my opinion can be a wonderful to say we could look at this. >> unforge hately, we have time for two or three more questions. jonathan blanks from cato.

>> you know, i'm not particular with -- i mean, i'm certainly familiar with thed a roll issues, -- aderol. i'm talk about the open yacht painkillers, the lack of information and education that was provided to doctors about pain management. and i think that those important parts of looking at what's taking the most american lives? what's sending the most female rehappen. >> this is from stew from c-a-d-c-a. please people to how multisector community using can

affect you? >> i guess i shouldn't have said this for the recording but the vast majority of the work is done. the people that have the puts on the ground aren't people inside the fairway. it is clearly a group of people that i have had this gift for three years to go around the country and meet and listen to. and their voices as directed by the president. their voices are part of this national control strategy. they're this one meeting with youth. they're the ones mentoring kids. they're the ones volunteering in schools and we have this wonderful opportunity to give them evidence and science based tools. it will help keep our next generation healthy and as i approach retirement age, i want them to be paying their social

security taxes. i want them to be able to do a great job out there. >> this is the second to last question. scott morgan. i appreciate your increased treatment. is arresting marijuana users a bad policy? >> if someone's arrested if a small amount of marijuana and we've made this determination. i mean, treatment face is a valuable commodity. what you have expert professionals in the field or the diagnosis field. i think they can pretty much tell who is in need of the

treatment. let me give you two examples. so we did a press conference not that long ago. with a wonderful, wonderful woman who atrented her change from drug use to one of recovery, to one of speaking out on this issue because she spent 30 days in the prow ward younty jail. >> where a very foresighted sheriff say i don't care how long they're going to be in custody. i'm going to provide them as much as possible. >> we talked to a young man and he said oy got into treatment because i was on my way to visit my mother who was with her. >> the way he treated me helped me out on my path to recovery.

i could just -- it's like literally hundreds dreads of stores across the country in which i don't want to see law enforcement characterized as anti-prevention. people in treatment professionals in particular should look at them. if i regreet anything. it recognizing the diseaseo addiction. now i hope to change that. >> that's great. >> this is the last question from lindsay house. what are you doing to ensure drug use is prevented before it even starts. our key is funding the for the program. and for a very small amount of money other a period of years,

they just make a huge difference in bringing together the school system, faith-based leaders, law enforcement and others for and incredibly low cost, gives young people a system. i couldn't be more proud of those community based programs where the real work is doing. >> thank you for coming. and thanks for the discussion. >> when it comes to privacy of american citizen, corporate liability. we look at the infrastructure. >> what's the future for u.s. cyber security? monday night on the communicators.

>> the cuts are required by law as part of last summer's deal to cut the ceiling. it's introduced by by republican chairman paul eyian. that begins at 2:00 p.m. eastern. >> now a discussion on the role of courts in a democracy. a panel of legal scholars examines whether it's possible for courts to be fair and partial. and what needs to be done to --

done. >> this is and 1:40. >> we're starting -- you don't need to wait? >> good evening. my name is bill robinson and it is my privilege this year to serve as president of the american bar association. welcome to today's special law day program, the courts and constitutional democracy in america. it is truly a pleasure to be here at the woodrow wilson. if you had the opportunity please look around this spectacular building and facility. this is our 11th annual public program to commemorate law day in our third year conducting it here at the wilson center. we are very pleased to have the wilson center as our host and

program partner. at this time, i have the pleasure of introducing my good friend and a great american bar leader, mark a. grass who is serving as national law day chair. mark? >> thank you, bill and thank you all for joining us for this annual law day celebration. the tradition we observe today began in 1958 when american bar association president charles ryan persuaded dwight d. eisenhower for law day. since this every u.s. president including president obama has issued a proclamation acknowledging may 1st as national law day. our host, the woodrow wilson international center for

scholars. the state humanities councils, represented by ester mcintosh. justice at stake and burt brandenburg. the legal of women voters respected by nancy tate and the national center for state courts represented by mary mcqueen. please join me in thanking all of them for their support. [applause] >> i'd also like to acknowledge the american bar association's staff which has worked so hard and particularly in the education division which organizes this annual event and the communications and media relations division. each-year the a.b.a. direct as theme that can inspire the hundreds of law activities in courthouses, schools and state capitals and city halls across america.