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Friends of the Fourth
District:
Last month, it was my honor to welcome to Los Angeles County John
Walters, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy. His visit was part of the ONDCP’s “25-Cities Initiative”
that focuses on the largest U.S. cities comprising a substantial
share of the substance abuse problem in the country.
The overall goal of the 25-Cities Initiative is to reduce drug use
by 10 percent in two years and 25 percent in five years by
developing a coordinated plan that would address these key measures
of drug use and related problems at the local level. As Director
Walters’s travels to the targeted 25 cities, he engages directly
with local citizens and officials to map out a collaborative plan
with shared goals.
I also shared with Director Walters what we are doing in Los Angeles
County to combat drug use. One of the most effective programs we
have in Los Angeles County are our Drug Courts.
Since its inception in 1994, 6,000 individuals have availed
themselves to the treatment regimen. The Drug Courts are unique, as
they are an intensive collaboration between criminal justice and
drug treatment professionals. And the program remains at or under a
25% recidivism rate.
LA County now has 14 local Drug Court Programs which are helping to
make a difference in the lives of those afflicted with drug
problems.
DON KNABE
Supervisor, Fourth District
County of Los Angeles
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