The federal response to drug abuse: 1976-1980

Drug use remains a prominent aspect of the American environment. Consequently, this analysis was undertaken to examine the current as well as the projected role of the federal government in drug abuse. Based on an examination of federal expenditures between the years of 1976 and 1980, the intelligence, corrections, interdictions, federal prosecutions, and compliance categories have increased their proportions of the budget, but not enough to compensate for inflation. Based on the foregoing, there is a continuing desire for states to increase their operational responsibilities; however, a well-structured mechanism for evaluation in law enforcement efforts is lacking. Even so, it appears that the level of concern accorded by the federal government to psychoactive substance use is progressively decreasing.