Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

A segment of the Executive Office of the President, ONDCP was developed by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. ONDCP prompts the President on drug control issues, directions drug control exercises and related subsidizing over the Federal government, and produces the yearly National Drug Control Strategy, which traces Administration endeavors to diminish illegal drug use, assembling and trafficking, drug related wrongdoing and viciousness, and drug-related wellbeing outcomes. 

Michael Botticelli was confirmed as Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in November 2012. He presently serves as the workplace’s Acting Director. Mr. Botticelli has over two many years of experience supporting Americans who have been influenced by substance use issue. As Acting Deputy Director, Ms. Hyland supervises ONDCP’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program (HIDTA), Drug-Free Communities (DFC), National Youth-Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and Counter-Drug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC). 

ONDCP’s central goal is to lead the Nation’s counter-narcotics endeavors by creating strategies and planning, advancing, and actualizing activities to lessen the supply, the use, and the social acknowledgment of Drugs in the United States. This mission is actualized through a progression of congressionally ordered exercises put forward in the agency’s approving enactment, and key activities went for diminishing illicit drug use, assembling, and trafficking; drug-related wrongdoing and abuse. 

GAO Report Summary

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Office Could Better Identify Opportunities to Increase Program Coordination. 

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and government agencies have not gained ground toward accomplishing the vast majority of the objectives verbalized in the 2010 National Drug Control Strategy (the Strategy), however, are accounted for to be on track to execute most Strategy activity things planned to support these objectives. ONDCP set up seven Strategy objectives identified with diminishing illegal drug use and its outcomes by 2015. As of March 2013, GAO’s investigation demonstrated that of the five objectives for which essential information on results are accessible, one shows advancement and four show no improvement. For instance, no progress has been made in lessening drug use among 12-to 17-year-olds by 15 percent. This is essential because of an increment in the rate of reported marijuana use, counterbalanced by reductions in the rates of reported use of different drugs. By and by, ONDCP reported that 107 of the 112 activity things in the Strategy are finished or on track. ONDCP authorities expressed that actualizing these activities are vital, however may not be adequate to accomplish Strategy objectives. 

ONDCP primarily expects to address the degree of advancement in achieving Strategy objectives through its new Performance Reporting System (PRS) – a checking instrument proposed to give particular, routine data on progress toward Strategy objectives and recognize components for performance crevices and alternatives for development. ONDCP authorities expressed that they plan to investigate PRS results without precedent for 2013. They likewise said that they plan to evaluate the system’s dependability and viability. This could build responsibility for enhancing results and recognize approaches to conquering any hindrance that right now exists between the absence of advancement toward Strategy objectives and the solid progress made on executing Strategy activities. 

Drug abuse counteractive action and treatment projects are divided crosswise over 15 government offices and give some support services, which could expand the danger of duplication. In particular, GAO distinguished support in 59 of the 76 projects incorporated into its survey. These projects could give or reserve one or more drug abuse aversion or treatment benefit that no less than one other system could likewise provide or store, either to comparable populace bunches or to reach similar project objectives. Such fracture and support may bring about wasteful use of resources among projects providing comparative services. 

GAO’s earlier work has found that inefficiencies developed by discontinuity and support can be minimized through coordination. On the other hand, numerous avoidance and treatment programs that GAO reviewed did not report coordination endeavors, and ONDCP has not evaluated the degree of support, duplication, and coordination. Agency authorities who regulate the 21 programs that GAO checked on in subtle element – programs for youth and guilty parties – reported attempting different endeavors to arrange program exercises. However, 29 of 76 (around 40 percent) reviewed projects reported no coordination with other government offices on drug abuse counteractive action or treatment exercises. Additionally, ONDCP has not surveyed all drug abuse aversion or treatment projects to distinguish the degree of support and potential duplication and any open doors for coordination. Such an appraisal would better position ONDCP to guarantee that agencies better influence and all the more proficiently use restricted resources. 

Why GAO Did This Study 

ONDCP is in charge of organizing the performance of drug control approach over the central government to address unlawful drug use. ONDCP added to the 2010 Strategy, which puts forward a 5-year plan to diminish illegal drug use through projects designed to forestall or treat drug mishandle or lessen the accessibility of drugs. GAO was requested that audit Strategy performance and drug abuse counteractive action and treatment programs. This report evaluates, in addition to other things, the degree to which advance has been developed toward accomplishing Strategy objectives; ONDCP has instruments set up to screen progress; discontinuity, support, and duplication exist crosswise over anticipation and treatment projects; and ONDCP and government agencies coordinate endeavors to decrease the potential for pointless support or overlap. GAO investigated the Strategy and its overterms, accessible information on advancement toward accomplishing Strategy objectives, and archives about ONDCP’s observing components. GAO additionally broke down information from polls sent to the 15 government agencies that manage counteractive action and treatment programs that gathered data on services gave and coordination endeavors. 

What GAO Recommends 

GAO prescribes that ONDCP surveys the degree of support and the potential for duplication crosswise over government projects occupied with drug abuse counteractive action and treatment exercises and distinguish open doors for expanded coordination. ONDCP agreed and expressed that it will work with agencies regulating these projects to upgrade further coordination. 

ONDCP OMB Reports

Congress may practice oversight over agency requiring so as budgeting implementation congressional notice before specific uses occur. For instance, under specific procurements of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1978 (22 U.S.C. §2151, et seq.) the Secretary of Defense, and at times the Secretary of State, is required to present a congressional warning (CN) to indicated congressional advisory groups no less than 15 days before the commitment or consumption of select remote guide funds. 

Comparative warning necessities might likewise be incorporated into allotments and approval acts. For instance, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (P.L. 112-81) included different procurements requiring a CN no less than 15 days preceding the commitment or consumption of indicated resources, including certain resources of the Commanders’ Emergency Response Program and the Global Security Contingency Fund. 

To evaluate the degree to which agencies and projects accomplish proposed results, ONDCP has started a system known as Performance Measures of Effectiveness—a long term exertion intended to survey the viability of the country’s drug control endeavors. ONDCP plans to ceaselessly screen the system’s operation to guarantee that it is entirely utilitarian and accomplishing its composed reason. 

Implementation estimation is an essential instrument for ONDCP in its oversight of Federal agencies – it empowers ONDCP to survey the commitments of drug control offices to the National Drug Control Strategy and the degree to which the Strategy’s Goals and Objectives are met. Two laws serve as key establishments for ONDCP’s implementation endeavors ‐‐ the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (P.L. 109‐469) and the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRMA). 

ONDCP tracks and reports on the advancement of the Strategy as reflected in implementation measures and targets built up for the Strategy’s Goals and Objectives. Evaluating the commitments of drug control Agencies in accomplishing the Goals and Objectives of the Strategy draws upon GPRMA information and other agency data. For evaluating interagency advance, the principal component is the Performance Reporting System (PRS), which was intended to assess the implementation of the vast and complex interagency Federal exertion put forward in the Strategy. The PRS was created through a broad interagency plan that United States Federal agencies with mastery in the zones of drug control approach, projects, and information. 

The PRS screens key implementation measures to illuminate ONDCP on interagency progress towards the Strategy’s goals and objectives. The primary PRS appraisal report will be distributed in 2013 and will deliver advancement to date. This data will be used to educate budget detailing and asset portion, Strategy implementation, policymaking, and planning.

Performance Measures of Effectiveness (PME) system

To perform its obligation regarding every year evaluating the adequacy of the central government’s National Drug Control Program, ONDCP has as of late actualized the Performance Measures of Effectiveness (PME) system. Set up in February 1998 through agreeable endeavors in the middle of ONDCP and the drug control group, the PME system gives a system to evaluating the viability of the National Drug Control Strategy by using objectives, goals, and quantifiable impacts, known as performance targets. This system is required to permit ONDCP, the agencies, and Congress to deal better with the projects and resources connected with the country’s drug control endeavors. The PME system is a work in advancement, and inquiries remain that could influence the system’s definitive achievement. 

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Strategy 

Performance assessment speaks to a critical apparatus for ONDCP in its oversight of the National Drug Control Program agencies – it empowers ONDCP to evaluate the degree to which the National Strategy accomplishes its objectives and record for the commitments of drug control offices. Two laws, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-469), and the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRMA) set the structure for a scope of performance necessities. 

ONDCP tracks and reports performance measures and targets established for every objective and goal in the Strategy. ONDCP, in a joint effort with its interagency accomplices, has built up an performance observing and appraisal instrument – the Performance Reporting System (PRS) – that screens key performance measures to evaluate interagency progress towards the objectives and targets of the Strategy. The principal PRS evaluation will be discharged with the 2014 Strategy. This appraisal, and take after on evaluations will be used to educate future policymaking, arranging, Strategy improvement and usage, and budget definition and asset portion. 

In supporting of the 2013 National Drug Control (Strategy), the President asks for $25.4 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to lessen drug use and its results in the United States. This speaks to an increment of $0.9 billion (3.7%) over the FY 2012 last level of $24.5 billion. The monetary allowance will keep on supporting an adjusted methodology that brings all divisions of society together in a national push to enhance general wellbeing and open security. 

Capacities of the drug policy agency classify the exercises of agencies into regular drug control territories. Predictable with the rebuilding of the drug control budget in FY 2012, the FY 2014 solicitation incorporates a project new to the National Drug Control Budget. The new program, the Department of Justice’s Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, now has a sensible system to gauge drug control subsidizing, gives basic help to state and local law implementation in tending to group issues with opiates, and gives tremendously required supporting to their nearby endeavors to diminish substance abuse. 

Conclusion 

ONDCP adds to the President’s Strategy for submittal to Congress. The Strategy puts forward an extensive arrangement for the year to decrease unlawful drug use and the outcomes of such unlawful drug use in the United States (U.S.) by restricting the accessibility of, and diminishing the interest for, illicit drugs. 

Why was this agency chosen? Drug use and abuse is much predominant among the adolescent in the U.S, and the legislature has the obligation to establish laws and strategies to handle better and decrease its abuse.  The objectives characterize the real activities that must be sought after to diminish drug use, accessibility, and outcomes. Every goal incorporates one or more targets, which measure progress towards the target and may be adjusted as counterdrug endeavors succeed or new difficulties develop. 

In arrangement of the Strategy, ONDCP counsels with the leaders of the National Drug Control Program offices; Congress; state, local, and tribal authorities; private natives and associations, including group and religious associations with experience and skill sought after lessening; private subjects and agencies with experience and ability in supply diminishment; and suitable agents of outside governments. 

The Budget recognizes resources and performance indicators for projects inside of the Executive Branch that are fundamental to the Strategy, classifying the resources for exercises of agencies into basic drug control ranges. The Budget is an exact, straightforward, and solid bookkeeping of Federal resources spent to lessen drug use and its results. 

Confirmation of particular office budgets is the statutory procedure by which ONDCP audits and shapes drug control budget recommendations. ONDCP is required to decide the ampleness of an office’s proposed budget to execute the goals of the Strategy. Accreditation influences the plan of agency budgets that are joined into the President’s proposed budget to Congress every year. To be guaranteed, office budgets must support the needs distinguished in the Strategy. The Director of ONDCP gives a particular direction to National Drug Control Program agencies on how best to support these needs. National Drug Control Program agencies consider this course when doing budgets.

The methodologies verbalized by the President’s Strategy incorporate maintaining and upgrading existing frameworks, growing new information frameworks and explanatory systems, and enhancing group level information. These methodologies are additionally reliable with the Office of Management and Budget’s direction to improve utilization of existing authoritative information and inventive ways to deal with survey progress in a practical way.