EDITORIAL: Welcome shift in drug policy to prevention

The flood of young heroin users swamping rehab programs on Long Island demonstrates the wisdom of giving prevention and treatment top billing in the new national drug control strategy. Billions of dollars and decades of effort haven't effectively curbed the supply of illicit drugs. Heroin is still plentiful and cheaper than ever. Washington's new emphasis on reducing demand offers hope of a better result.

Under the strategy that the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, announced recently, the federal effort will still, appropriately, include working to keep drugs out of the country and supporting police efforts to control dealing and crime. But if demand dwindles, supply will too. So Washington will now provide more resources to help people avoid drug problems, to intervene early to keep use from progressing to addiction, and to treat those who become addicted.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy's 2011 budget of $15.5 billion tells the story. Spending for prevention programs will increase 13.4 percent to $1.7 billion, and for treatment, 3.7 percent to $3.9 billion, while remaining essentially flat for law enforcement, interdiction and international programs.

The goal includes reducing both youth drug use and drug-related deaths by 15 percent, and drugged driving by 10 percent. It won't be easy. But hitting those targets on Long Island - where the number of young people in rehab doubled from 2007 to 2009 - would mark real progress. hN