Driving under the influence (DUI) of illegal drugs causes highway accidents, injuries and deaths on the same scale as driving under the influence of alcohol. Ignorance prompts teenagers -- the highest risk drivers -- to drive after using drugs or to ride as passengers with other teens who have recently used drugs. In a recent survey, an estimated six million high school seniors reported that they drove after they had used illegal drugs. The public ­- teens in particular -­ must become aware of the dangers of drugged driving. DUI laws must be based on the per se standard which makes it illegal to drive after using illegal drugs. The nation's 20-year history of per se enforcement for commercial drivers in the trucking, airline and rail industries needs to be extended to everyone who uses the nation's roads and highways. Police need to conduct tests for illegal drugs as frequently as they now test for alcohol. Greater awareness of the problem of drugged driving and tough sanctions that are vigorously enforced will prevent many drivers from using illegal drugs. IBH estimates that such efforts will save 20,000 lives each year.

For more information, visit IBH's Stop Drugged Driving website.

Improve Treatment: Stop the Revolving Door

For too many illegal drug users, leaving drug treatment and returning to drug use is a vicious cycle. The costs to individuals and to society of revolving door drug treatment include lost productively, crime, poor health, and even death. Each failure of drug treatment represents a tragedy for the individuals involved, for their families and for their communities. Good treatment with follow-up drug testing and meaningful consequences for continued illegal drug use produces more drug-free former drug users. Compassionate drug treatment requires zero tolerance for continued non-medical drug use including swift interventions, increased treatment, and certain sanctions, all of which encourage drug-free lives. Long-term, closely supervised treatment and aftercare monitoring, especially when linked to the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, is now achieving unprecedented success in a variety of populations ranging from convicted criminals to practicing physicians. This new model of care management must be expended to all drug treatment.

Encourage Random Student Drug Testing: Give Kids Another Good Reason to Say "NO"

Between 2001 and 2007, illegal drug use among teens dropped approximately 25%, but despite this progress, the number of young drug users remained high. Illegal drug use is correlated with poor academic performance, dropping out of school, violent and criminal behavior, and mental illness. In the last decade, more than 16% of US school districts have implemented Random Student Drug Testing (RSDT) programs. The US Supreme Court has ruled favorably on mandatory random drug testing of student athletes and students who participate in extracurricular activities in public schools. RSDT is an important part of a school's comprehensive drug prevention efforts. Drug testing at school reinforces all other prevention messages by giving teens another good reason not to use drugs. Drug testing at school identifies students who are using drugs, leading to interventions and, when needed, to treatment. RSDT is confidential and non-punitive. Students who test positive are not expelled or reported to the police. They are helped to stay in school and to become and remain drug-free. These programs are becoming mainstream and should be implemented in all school districts nationwide.

For more information, visit IBH's Prevention Not Punishment website.

Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse: Curtail This New Drug Abuse Epidemic

Although illegal drug use by youth is declining, the illegal use of prescription medications is rising rapidly. Beginning in 2005 the rate of new nonmedical use of prescription pain killers, like OxyContin, exceeded even the rate of new use of marijuana in the US. These drugs are often found in family medicine cabinets or obtained on the Internet without a prescription. Highly addicting and potentially lethal, they are given casually to friends or sold illegally. More responsible prescription management by physicians and patients is needed. The pharmaceutical industry must develop more abuse-resistant formulations of the medications that are subject to abuse. The FDA and other federal agencies should actively encourage these new formulations. Patients need to know that it is illegal to give away or sell prescribed medicines. This law needs to be publicized and enforced. When appropriately used, prescribed medicines are effective and safe, but when used inappropriately, these same medicines can be deadly.