The 1992 Democratic Party Platform aimed to combat substance abuse on multiple fronts, including helping those with co-occurring HIV and substance use disorders receive treatment, increasing prevention efforts, stopping narcotraffickers and reducing the American demand for illegal drugs. The Democrats’ stance on substance abuse changed again in the 1990s under Bill Clinton. “We must treat addiction as a health problem and seek flexibility in administering Medicare and Medicaid for substance abuse treatment, especially alcohol and drug services,” said the 1980 Democratic Party Platform. Bush serving during this era.ĭuring this time, the Democratic Party maintained its tough-on-crime approach and focused its platform on increasing social and drug prevention services and expanding access to substance use treatment. The Democrats’ efforts to prevent drug abuse and expand treatment took a back seat in the 1980s, with former Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. “We must help state, local, and tribal law enforcement work together to combat and prevent drug crime and drug and alcohol abuse, which are a blight on our communities.” “We must break up organized crime syndicates dealing in drugs, take necessary action to get drug pushers off the streets, provide drug users with effective rehabilitation programs, including medical assistance, ensure that all young people are aware of the costs of a life of drug dependency, and use worldwide efforts to stop international production and trafficking in illicit drugs,” the 1976 Democratic Party Platform said. The 1976 Democratic Party Platform pushed for a policy that was harsh on drug criminals and improved drug rehab treatment for Americans. Going forward, the Democratic Party hopes to implement policies that will have a profound impact on preventing drug abuse and increasing access to treatment for those with substance use disorders.ĭuring the 1970s, the Democratic Party and Carter supported a platform that focused on tackling addiction and drug suppliers. “Plain and simple, drug and alcohol addiction is a disease, not a moral failing - and we must treat it as such,” Secretary Clinton said in an op-ed piece for the New Hampshire Union Leader.ĭuring the current Congress, multiple drug abuse and prevention bills sponsored by Democrats have become laws or passed the House or Senate, and more than 300 have reached committee consideration. The Democrats hope to continue to strengthen these efforts over the next four years with Hillary Clinton as president. In July, he signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, which provided $181 million for prevention programs and expanded access to treatment and opioid overdose reversal medications such as naloxone. President Barack Obama supports the fight against substance abuse in the United States.Īs the country faces an unprecedented opioid and heroin epidemic, President Barack Obama has continued to support substance abuse treatment and prevention efforts to combat American drug use.ĭuring his presidency, Obama has called for an end to the war on drugs and has supported legislation to improve treatment access for individuals struggling with substance use. Ted Kennedy, Harold Hughes and Vice President Joe Biden helped establish protocols that support Americans with substance use disorders and prevent further drug abuse harm. Legislation from congressmen including former Sens. Key democratic figures such as former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton played critical roles in shifting the party’s stance on drug abuse to what it is today: one that is focused on treatment and prevention efforts rather than incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders. Drug addiction - once seen as a moral deviance - is now being recognized as a legitimate disease that affects millions of Americans across all economic and social classes. The nation’s challenges with drug abuse and addiction have evolved considerably since 1970, and so have the Democratic Party’s views on substance abuse and addiction. As Americans prepare for a presidential election in the face of a heroin epidemic, we examine the democrats who have shaped and continue to influence United States drug policy.
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