Under President Clinton's leadership, our nation is making progress in reducing drug use and related crime. This Administration has dealt serious blows to international criminal networks -- such as the Cali Cartel of Colombia -- that import drugs into our country. Drug prosecutions have increased 13 percent since 1994, and federal prosecutors achieved an 85 percent conviction rate in all drug cases in 1994. Cocaine use is down more than 30 percent. The President is also targeting hardcore users who consume the majority of drugs in this country, expanding drug treatment, and providing prevention and education programs that work.

While this represents important progress, focus must now center on the alarming trend of increased drug use among our young people. President Clinton is taking action to reduce drug use and to reverse this trend by targeting drug pushers and youth gangs. To protect our families and communities, the President is leading the fight against drugs by:

	Supporting school athlete drug testing before the Supreme Court, sending the message to parents and students that drug use will not be tolerated in our schools.
	Strengthening and expanding the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, which enables schools and school districts to develop and implement violence- and drug-prevention programs. Over 97 percent of our nation's school districts use these funds to keep violence, drugs, and alcohol away from students and out of schools.
	Elevating the Office of National Drug Control Policy to full Cabinet-level status and appointing General Barry McCaffrey as Director.
	Issuing a Presidential Directive to develop a comprehensive drug testing program for the federal criminal justice system and urging states and localities to adopt a similar program.
	Developing a comprehensive strategy to combat the trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine, one of the country's most dangerous drugs.
	Issuing a Presidential Directive to enforce the "zero tolerance" measures outlined in the Gun-Free Schools Act.
	Providing states and localities the resources to help break the cycle of crime and drugs through drug courts, boot camps, and treatment programs.
	Winning passage of the toughest and smartest Crime Bill ever, which is adding 100,000 police officers to our streets -- more than 44,000 have already been funded.
	Proposing the nation's largest drug budget to Congress for fiscal year (FY) 1997.
	Strengthening our nation's borders by increasing the number of Border Patrol agents to stop drug smugglers from funneling drugs into the country.
	Pressing Colombia to improve its drug fighting efforts, leading to the arrest of six of the top leaders of the Cali Cartel.
	Convening the first White House Conference to address the issues of adolescent drug use and violence.
	Expanding drug treatment for hard-core users to help end the cycle of violence and drug abuse.
	Launching a National Drug Media Literacy Campaign for parents, youth, and communities.
	Issuing the first heroin strategy to develop international cooperation against heroin abuse.
	Ordering the blocking of U.S.-based financial assets and barring Americans from engaging in transactions with "front companies" operated by the Cali Cartel.

Building on Our Progress

President Clinton will continue to lead the fight against the use of illegal drugs by:

	Motivating America's young people to reject illegal drugs.
	Increasing the safety of our citizens by reducing drug-related crime and violence.
	Reducing health, welfare, and crime costs resulting from illegal drug use.
	Protecting the country's air, land, and sea frontiers from the drug threat.
	Working to eliminate foreign and domestic drug trafficking at the source.