WASHINGTON, D.C. - We need a balanced approach in combating drugs, one that includes prevention, treatment and enforcement, a senior Guard official said at the National Guard Counterdrug Domestic Operations and Planning Meeting here March 24.
"No one knows how to do that better than the National Guard Counterdrug Program's Soldiers and Airmen as we've followed that approach for years," said Army Guard Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, the director of the National Guard Bureau's Joint Staff.
He said while the health and economic cost alone from drug and alcohol abuse in the United States amounts to over $350 billion a year, the bigger problem is the personal cost.
"Human suffering – lives lost as well as dreams lost – not only affect the abuser, but it impacts our families and our communities," Aylward said.
Those community ties are where the Guard already fits in, said Air Guard Maj. Gen. William Etter, the director of the National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations.
"We are unique in the fact that we live in our communities and have grown up there – and that's
what makes the counterdrug mission a good fit for the demand reduction mission," he said.
Etter also reiterated what Vice President Joe Biden said March 11 at the announcement ceremony of Gil Kerlikowske as the new Drug Czar at the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
"We can't operate in 'silos' with barriers thrown up between the criminal justice system, the prevention and treatment community, and the recovery components of this problem," said Biden. "They can't be separated; they need a comprehensive answer."
The National Guard Counterdrug Program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is a congressionally-mandated program that operates a full spectrum of antidrug efforts in support to law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations.
Under the leadership of their governor, Guardmembers in each of the 54 states and territories operate in concert with their unique, state-based needs.
About 2,500 Soldiers and Airmen work in the CD Program in a Title 32 status, which is state control with federal funding. Additionally, these troops are still required to train with their units and deploy as required.
In their CD status, they support local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in ground and aerial reconnaissance, criminal analysis and linguistic missions.
Guardmembers also work with community-based organizations across the country in various drug demand reduction programs to educate the nation's youth about the hazards of illicit drugs and to motivate children to be drug free.
Finally, they are responsible for annually drug testing all National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.
The National Guard partners with community-based organizations, such as the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). Retired Army Maj. Gen. Arthur Dean, the CADCA president, said studies have shown that communities with a Drug Free Coalition have up to 9.9 percent less drug use.
"The National Guard's support to community coalitions is not only important and vital at the national level, but all across the nation," he said.