Summary and Analysis
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a legislative branch government agency that provides evaluation and investigative services for the Congress. Known as “the investigative arm of Congress” and “the congressional watchdog,” the GAO produces reports and provides testimony to Congress based on its research and investigations.
In June 2022 the GAO released a report titled Drug Policy: Preliminary Observations on the 2022 National Drug Control Strategy in which it provided to Congress its initial feedback on the April 2022 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) National Drug Control Strategy. The GAO reported that the ONDCP drug strategy document failed to detail resources needed to slow drug trafficking and reduce overdose deaths. “Our preliminary review of the available documents suggests that ONDCP included some but not all of the types of information in the strategy that is required by federal law.”
Excerpted from U.S. Government Accountability Office
What GAO Found
Federal drug control efforts span a range of activities including prevention, treatment, interdiction, international operations, and law enforcement. These efforts represent a considerable federal investment. The federal drug control budget for fiscal year 2022 was over $39 billion and the federal government has enlisted more than a dozen agencies to address drug misuse and its effects. Our preliminary review of the available documents suggests that ONDCP included some but not all of the types of information in the strategy that is required by federal law. More information may be in the additional documents ONDCP plans to release later this year.
