REPORT TO THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS

Office of National Drug Control Policy

2010 

 
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Office of National Drug Control Policy Report to the White 

House Council on Women and Girls 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) mission is to reduce overall drug 

use throughout the United States. There are an estimated 7.3 million adult women 

needing substance abuse treatment (drug and alcohol). Drug dependence or addiction 

significantly impacts women’s health, ability to nurture and parent, and the financial 

stability of women and their families. Nationally, about 32% of clients in substance 

abuse treatment are female. Adolescence can be a stressful time, especially for girls, 

making them susceptible to a host of risky behaviors, including substance abuse. Teen 

girls face many challenges — peer pressure, conflicting social forces, issues concerning 

body image and sexuality, as well as intense expectations to excel in athletics and/or 

academics. ONDCP and its partner national drug control agencies throughout the 

Federal government implement a number of programs which address the unique risk 

and protective factors as well as challenges in preventing and treating substance abuse 

and addiction among women and girls. 

Current Drug Use Among Youth,

By Gender, 2007

Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (September 2008).

7/2009

Girls have caught up with boys on starting 

marijuana, alcohol, and cigarette use (2007)

Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (September 2008).

7/2009

PROGRAMS WHICH IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Among ONDCP’s current career Senior Executive Service (SES) corps, two are women 

and provide leadership in Agency management decisions. In addition, ONDCP has a 

comprehensive training program which provides job-related and career development 

opportunities. 

ONDCP offers several options for its employees seeking to balance work/life 

responsibilities. Along with other EOP families, parents within the Agency receive 

priority placement and discounted tuition at a nearby (14th and H Streets) daycare 

facility. Additionally, ONDCP components have an opportunity to request participation in 

an alternate work schedule program, which includes a compressed work schedule 

program, enabling employees an alternative means of addressing complex family 

scheduling challenges and away-from work activities. As well, ONDCP has a wellness 

program which provides access to physical examinations, to include EKG, hearing, 
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vision, cervical, breast, and blood screens; access to health club facilities; a medical unit 

staffed with a full-time public health nurse; and privacy rooms available for lactation. 

Relevant Statistics: 

At present, women are well-represented within ONDCP’s general workforce and the two 

highest pay levels on the General Schedule. In order to attract highly qualified 

candidates, ONDCP advertises employment opportunities and recruits with 76

professional organizations, 4 of which serve women specifically. 

Workforce Gender Balance and Pay Parity

Male Female

Number of Employees 54 49

GS-14 13 9

GS-15 16 11

SES 10 3

Professional Development

Over the past several years, ONDCP has been able to provide professional development 

opportunities to its general workforce. 

Male Female

FY 2010 (to date) 1 2

FY 2009 16 32

FY 2008 20 18

FY 2007 26 15

Programs Which Promote Work/Life Balance

Currently, there are 21 employees participating in the compressed work schedule 

program, of which 13 are women. Further, a substantial majority of ONDCP employees 

work one or more days per pay period outside of the traditional 9:00am-5:30pm 

schedule. As well, on average, of the employees participating in the physical 

examination program (30-40 each year) half are women. 

 
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Future Efforts: 

Over the next three years, ONDCP will work to remove any barriers to employment or 

professional development among the Agency’s components, within pay grades, and in 

positions of leadership and significant responsibility. The Agency will also strive to 

promote improved work/life balance and a robust internal communications program

Leadership and Promotion

Three-year goal: Increase the number of women who qualify for SES/advanced 

leadership positions 

Year 1: Conduct internal equity review and report results; 

Create and implement Individual Development Plans; 

Year 2: Expand recruiting efforts among women-serving organizations and 

associations; 

Increase percentage of female ONDCP employees participating in 

professional development 

Three-year goal: Provide job experience and references for women and others in 

recovery from substance abuse, as well as mentoring opportunities for ONDCP 

employees via a targeted internship program 

Year 1: Develop implementation plan, including identification of target audience 

and outreach strategy, and plans to address logistical challenges and 

access/linkages to recovery support, e.g. access to appropriate 

counseling, housing, and required security clearances 

Recruit and develop mentoring capacity of ONDCP staff through training 

opportunities 

Year 2: Implement targeted internship/mentoring program with at least two 

participants and two ONDCP mentors 

Year 3: Conduct follow-up interviews to determine employment outcomes for 

internship graduates 

Programs That Promote Work/Life Balance

Three-year goal: Increase flexible schedule and telework options for all ONDCP 

employees 

Year 1: Conduct an intra-agency feasibility review of possible telework programs 

Year 2: Conduct pilot tests of selected telework programs 
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Year 3: Report results of pilot programs and recommend relevant changes to 

ONDCP policy 

Enhance Employee Engagement / Personal Development Opportunities

Three-year goal: Engage majority of ODNCP female employees, as well as their 

male counterparts, in quarterly meetings of an internal Coordinating Council to 

plan, implement, achieve, and evaluate objectives outlines in this Report. 

Year 1: Recruit and form ONDCP Coordinating Council to collaboratively develop 

priorities and implementation strategies. 

Year 2: Increase participation and retention in Coordinating Council. 

Three-year goal: Achieve participation by majority of ONDCP staff in ongoing, a 

well as periodic volunteer and service projects which serve women, girls, or 

others in the substance abuse field. 

Year 1: Establish organizational framework for soliciting, evaluating, and selecting 

Agency-sponsored volunteer and/or service opportunities for ONDCP staff 

Year 2: Implement at least two volunteer/service opportunities, from nomination, to 

consideration, to service delivery. 

Three-year goal: Improve ONDCP employee assessment of internal 

communications 

Year 1: Conduct baseline survey of all ONDCP employees concerning quantity, 

quality, and type of internal communications; 

Develop internal, two-way communications plan which factors in employee 

suggestions elicited from baseline survey 

Year 2: Implement regular schedule of internal briefings, seminars on topics of 

interest to Agency employees; 

Establish vehicles for regular employee input and feedback 

ONDCP PROGRAMS WHICH IMPROVE THE LIVES OF AMERICA’S WOMEN AND

GIRLS

ONDCP manages and administers two significant programs which prevent substance 

abuse among girls and women. 
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National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign 

ONDCP’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign utilizes a blend of paid advertising 

and public communications/earned media outreach, and has developed a brand, Above 

The Influence, which empowers all teens to reject drugs and any other negative 

influence in their lives. By embracing teen girls’ unique life stage and supporting their 

struggle with self-identity, the Media Campaign facilitates healthy decisions to reject 

drugs and other negative influences. The Above the Influence messaging, which 

highlights short- and long-term social and health consequences, is seen and heard in 

environments where teen girls chose to be. The Campaign’s targeted media approach 

has national reach, involves multiple channels, and engages teen girls in the messaging. 

Awareness of ATI Logo  Awareness of the ATI Logo remained stable for 5 months at 79%, but began to move in an 

upward direction in Feb ‘09.

 ATI continues to lead all other campaigns by significant margins in logo awareness.

2005 2006 2007 2008 

2006 

Mean :

65%

2007 

Mean :

77%

2008 

Mean:

81%

Prelaunch

2009 

2009 

Mean:

81% 14

32

45

48

57

60 62

67

71 69 70

66

72 70

67

76

73 75 76 76 76

80

77 79 80

74

81

84

77

82 83 84

81

86

79 79 79 79 79 80

84 81

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

100

SEP

NOV

JAN

MARMAY

JUL

SEP

NOV

JAN

MARMAY

JUL

SEP

NOV

JAN

MARMAY

JUL

SEP

NOV

JAN

MAR

truth My Anti-Drug Above the Influence

Awareness of Above the Influence logo 

Print: The Media Campaign utilizes eight girl-targeted publications: Cosmo Girl, 

Seventeen, J-14, Twist, Teen, Girls’ Life, Justine and M. In addition, girls are 

exposed to our messaging in print through a number of more ―dual-reach‖ 

publications, such as Lacrosse Magazine, Teen Ink, Smash and Shonen Jump.

Television & Radio: The Media Campaign employs a number of networks, such 

as The CW, The N, and MTV, as well as specific programs which provide a strong 

reach to teen girls; from Primetime TV hits like Gossip Girl, 90210, One Tree Hill, 

and America’s Next Top Model, to popular Cable programs like The Hills, The 

Secret Life Of The American Teenager, Gilmore Girls, and DeGrassi: The Next 

Generation. Radio ads reach girls through national network of stations as well. 

Online: The Campaign utilizes relevant online activities to engage teens. The 

Campaign runs on popular social networking Web sites, such as Facebook.com, 

MySpace.com, MyYearbook.com, Bebo.com, and on female-targeted 

entertainment Web sites, such as CosmoGirl.com and Seventeen.com. 
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A special online feature on the Campaign’s teen site,

www.abovetheinfluence.com posts stories and tips for teen girls from teen girls. 

This feature, ―Girls’ Journals,‖ resembles a series of teen girls’ diaries, and 

includes stories submitted by teen girls about how they handle pressure in their 

lives, including drugs, school, peer pressure, stress, and more. Users can read 

stories, hear audio clips from real teen girls sharing their experiences, and learn 

the facts about how girls are impacted by drugs and pressures. (View feature at: 

http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/help/girls-journals.aspx#)

Out-of-Home: The Media Campaign also has a presence in movie theaters, 

where many PG-13-rated movies attract large teen girl audiences. Examples of 

such movies include: Twilight, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Mamma 

Mia, 27 Dresses, Made Of Honor, and He’s Just Not That Into You. The 

Campaign also has a presence during the highly popular music concert series 

Jingleball, with events in markets such as Los Angeles, New York, Boston, 

Chicago, and Miami.

Public Communications Outreach to Parents of Girls 

Girls & Drugs Initiative 

ONDCP launched an initiative aimed at reducing drug use among teen girls by 

raising awareness among parents that teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to 

substance abuse and other risky behaviors. Data shows that, contrary to 

conventional wisdom, girls have caught up to boys with regard to the prevalence 

of illicit drug and alcohol use, and in some cases, such as prescription drug abuse 

and cigarette smoking, have surpassed them. ONDCP continues to reinforce the 

fact that girls have unique vulnerabilities which can lead to substance abuse, and 

that drug and alcohol use has a more profound impact on teen girls, both 

physically and psychologically. The Media Campaign created a special feature –

―Girls and Drugs‖ – on its parent site, www.TheAntiDrug.com, to support the 

offline initiative. This online feature includes tips for parents about raising healthy 

girls, facts about teen girls’ risk for drug abuse, tips and ideas about activities for 

parents to do with their teen daughters, and an e-card for parents to send to their 

teen daughters. (View feature at: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/girls-and-drugsindex.aspx) 

Parent Bloggers 

Parent Bloggers – many of whom are moms – comprise a particularly influential 

category with the parent audience, and the list includes prominent self-publishing 

bloggers with large followings, as well as blogging reporters who write for 

traditional media outlets. Research shows that 36 million women read or write 

blogs on a monthly basis, and a majority of women in the 25-60 year-old age 

group regularly read or write blogs about parenting and health. Recognizing the 

important niche role these online influencers play in impacting family health 

decisions, the Media Campaign includes outreach to ―mommy bloggers‖ in a 

range of media outreach initiatives. This spring, the Media Campaign kicked off a 

prescription drug abuse prevention campaign, with specific outreach to the 

―mommy bloggers.‖

Evaluation/Feedback Mechanism: 

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign employs a rigorous research 

methodology to ensure that all Campaign advertising communicates intended 

message and does not have any unintended negative impact among the teen and 
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tween girl audience. This mechanism involves a three part process including 

testing of the advertising concepts within qualitative focus groups, quantitatively 

copytesting the finished TV spots, and a continuous Campaign tracking study to 

monitor the in-market performance of the NYADMC among teen girls. During all 

three stages, the research findings inform and effect the development of 

Campaign communications to assure the finest work is produced. 

Relevant Statistics: 

In FY’09, the Media Campaign will reach an estimated 97% of girls approximately 58 

times. This roughly translates into the Campaign advertising reaching the vast majority of 

teen girls an average of once a week. On average, the AbovetheInfluence.com Web site 

receives 800,000 visitors a month. As we can not use cookies, we can not break that 

figure by gender. Since January 2008, the section of www.TheAntiDrug.com feature 

called ―Girls and Drugs‖ has received almost 90,000 page views. Spring 2009 outreach 

to ―mommy bloggers‖ delivered almost 30,000 online impressions of Campaign 

messages. 

FY’09 NYADMC MEDIA IMPACT 

97% Reach 

to Teen 

Girls

58x

Frequency

69 Billion 

Teen Girl 

Impressions

Future Efforts:

The Media Campaign is in the process of advancing its approach for reaching and 

interacting with the teen girl target audience. The Campaign has begun to develop 

gender-specific print ads through the Above the Influence brand which are intended to 

speak to young women more clearly, in their own voice and style, while reaching them in 

the media environments where they are most comfortable. The ads and posters, which 

will feature an African American teen, will be widely available for local use and 

distribution. 

The Media Campaign, through an initiative with Reader’s Digest, is supporting the efforts 

of the Boys and Girls Club. In the September and October 2009 issues, the Media 

Campaign will run an ad alerting parents to the dangers of prescription drug abuse and 

an accompanying page which provides tips for parents, including encouraging parents to 

find positive environments for the teens, such as a local Boys and Girls Club. In 

addition, the Media Campaign will provide parenting information during the Boys and 

Girls Club’s Youth of the Year Award held in Washington, DC this October (it is our 

understanding that President Obama will be at the ceremony) as well as provide Above 

The Influence resources to be distributed at local clubs in the top 15 markets. 
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Drug Free Communities Support Program 

ONDCP administers the Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC), a matching 

grant effort designed to help community coalitions identify and respond to local youth 

substance use problems. With 800 grants in 769 communities in all fifty states, DFC 

currently impacts nearly 1/3 of all U.S. youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Many DFC 

community coalitions employ strategies directed specifically and pre-teen and teen girls, 

including: 

6,000 at-risk teen girls participating in an 8-week curriculum that is increasing the 

perception of risk of using drugs – Cape Coral, FL

With a focus on teen girls in general, and Latina girls specifically, one coalition 

has not only reduced alcohol use among young girls, they are reducing dropout 

and teen pregnancy rates as well. Through youth clubs and youth media efforts 

they have cut 8th grade use of alcohol nearly in half – Hood River, OR

1,000 Latina girls have participated in ―Soy Unica Soy Latina‖ and have shown a 

90% increase in knowledge about those protective factors which can lead to 

reductions in substance use – Lawrenceville, GA

Relevant Statistics: 

The National Interim Evaluation, conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute on behalf of 

ONDCP, examined trends in current use among communities with DFC coalitions, 

compared to reported use at the national level using data from the Youth Risk Behavior 

Surveillance System (YRBS). The analysis shows that between 2006 and 2007, current 

use rates for communities with DFC coalitions declined for all three substances 

measured (alcohol, tobacco and marijuana) in grades 9-12. The study found similar rates 

of use among girls and boys for tobacco and alcohol, but higher rates of use of 

marijuana for males than females. 

DFC Communities: Change Over Time in Youth Marijuana Use by Gender and Year of 

Measurement

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Percent Reporting Use

Male Marijuana Use Female Marijuana Use
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DFC Communities: Change Over Time in Youth Marijuana Use by Gender and Year of 

Measurement 

Year Gender

Number of 

Coalitions 

Reporting 

Data

Mean 

Percent 

Using

Marijuana -95%CI +95%CI

Percent Change 

from Prior Year

2005

Male 241 14.0% 12.9% 15.1% -0.7%

Female 237 11.1% 10.0% 12.2% -1.1%

2006

Male 233 10.6% 10.0% 11.3% -3.3%

Female 233 8.5% 7.9% 9.1% -2.6%

2007

Male 191 8.8% 7.9% 9.8% -1.9%

Female 193 6.8% 6.0% 7.7% -1.7%

2008

Male 136 5.3% 4.6% 6.1% -3.5%

Female 136 4.1% 3.7% 4.6% -2.7%

Future Efforts: 

Over the next three years, ONDCP’s DFC program will continue to encourage local antidrug coalitions to address the risk and protective factors unique to women and girls in 

order to continue driving overall drug use down. 

Year 1: DFC will work with its partners to identify the Federal resources available to 

support community coalitions developing strategies to reduce youth drug use among 

girls and young women. 

Year 2: Increase training and technical assistance to community coalitions by ten 

percent to support prevention programming to assist women in the transition from middle 

to high school and high school to college/workforce.

OTHER DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS WHICH IMPROVE THE LIVES OF AMERICA’S

WOMEN AND GIRLS 

In addition to the programs ONDCP implements, several Federal drug control agencies 

operate programs which promote substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery 

among women and/or provide support for their dependent children. 

Treatment Courts for Women and Their Dependent Children 

Collaborations between the criminal justice system and substance abuse treatment 

providers have developed Treatment Courts, some of which focus on female substance 

abusers. Federal funds may be used to support treatment services and court 

infrastructure. There are three primary models of gender-specific treatment courts: 

Family Dependency Treatment Court : According to the National Association of 

Drug Court Professionals, there are 328 Family Dependency Treatment Courts in 
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the U.S.. Family dependency treatment court is a juvenile or family court docket of 

which selected abuse, neglect, and dependency cases are identified where 

parental substance abuse (typically of the mother) is a primary factor. Judges, 

attorneys, child protection services, and treatment personnel unite with the goal of 

providing safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for children while simultaneously 

providing parents the necessary support and services to become drug and alcohol 

abstinent. Family dependency treatment courts aid parents in regaining control of 

their lives and promote long-term stabilized recovery to enhance the possibility of 

family reunification within mandatory legal timeframes. 

Women’s Drug Treatment Court: Created in 1992 as a demonstration project 

and administered through the Kalamazoo County Office of Community 

Corrections, this court diverts low-level, non-violent female offenders with 

substance abuse problems and uses the social service system to provide 

supervised treatment and critical recovery support programs. The Drug Treatment 

Court Foundation has funded the program in its entirety since 2005. As of January 

2008, 230 women have successfully completed the program. 

Prostitution Court: Prostitution courts represent a coordinated response 

between the judicial system, law enforcement, community service agencies, and 

treatment providers to address prostitution within different communities. 

Prostitution courts offer individuals convicted of prostitution an opportunity to 

recover and rebuild their lives through a variety of coordinated services, including 

health, mental health/substance abuse, education, and job training. To date, 

there are courts in Colorado (1), Louisiana (2), Michigan (1), Nevada (1), and 

Pennsylvania (1). 

Women-Specific Substance Abuse Treatment Programming 

Services specifically designed for women, such as child care, prenatal care, womenspecific treatment, mental health services, and supplemental services and workshops 

addressing women-focused topics, are beneficial in improving treatment outcomes and 

supporting sustained recovery. Improved outcomes include changes in substance use, 

mental health symptoms, perinatal/birth outcomes, employment, self-reported health 

status, and HIV risk reduction. Consideration of gender in programming has been 

recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) because the background 

characteristics, substance abuse patterns, and personal histories of female users may 

differ from those of males. As such, treatment should also their special needs and 

barriers to treatment. 
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Among females in their childbearing years, young 

pregnant teens have the highest rate of illicit drug use.

Percent Reporting Past Month Illicit Drug Use, Ages 15-44 (2006-2007)

Source: SAMHSA, 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (September 2008). 7/2009

In September 2008, SAMHSA CSAT awarded 16 grants totaling $22.9 million over three 

years to expand the availability of comprehensive residential treatment services for 

pregnant and postpartum women, their children and family members. Grants support 

linkages to primary care, mental health and social services for women in addiction 

treatment programs. Grantees are located in: 

Frankfort, KY Lexington, KY Boston, MA 

Memphis, TN Milwaukee, WI Birmingham, AL 

Jacksonville, FL Pinellas Park, FL Santa Barbara, CA 

Lincoln, NE Norristown, PA Chicago, IL 

Lorrain, OH Fort Wayne, IN Talihina, OK 

Baton Rouge, LA 

 

Indian Health Service 

The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human 

Services, is responsible for providing Federal health services to American Indians and 

Alaska Natives (AI/AN). IHS supports substance abuse treatment and prevention 

services as part of this mission. Tribes operate approximately 95 percent of alcohol and 

drug abuse programs under self-determination agreements, which allows for flexibility in 

designing programs. 

FY 2009 funding includes funds for the Urban Indian Health Program, a portion of which 

is provided as grants to 34 urban Indian 501(c)3 non-profit organizations to carry out 

alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment activities in the communities they 

serve. All urban programs have active partnerships with their local Veteran’s 

Administration programs to identify joint program initiatives. 
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The percent of appropriate female patients screened for alcohol-use (Fetal Alcohol 

Syndrome prevention) increased from 28% in FY 2006 to 47% in FY 2008, which is a 

68% increase in screening over two years. 

Illegal Trafficking of Humans, Including Women and Girls 

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) within the U.S. 

Department of State is focused on promoting human anti-trafficking measures worldwide 

and coordinating the efforts of domestic and international entities. Human trafficking is a 

crime that deprives people of their human rights and freedoms, increases global health 

risks, fuels networks of organized crime, and can impede economic and social 

development. An estimated 800,000 individuals, including women and children, are 

trafficked across international borders each year. Millions more are trafficked within their 

own national borders for a variety of purposes, including forced labor, bonded labor, 

sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude. G/TIP works with governments, 

international associations, and nongovernmental organizations to combat human 

trafficking, especially that of women and children. 

Transnational organized crime networks are often at the root of the trafficking of women 

and children, and generate enormous profit from not only the trafficking of human 

beings, but also drug trafficking, trafficking in firearms, and money laundering.

In FY 2008, the U.S. Government obligated approximately $76 million to 140 

international anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) projects benefiting over 70 countries and 

approximately $23 million to 82 domestic anti-TIP projects. These projects work to 

ensure the survivors are protected, the traffickers are put in jail and human trafficking is 

prevented.

CONCLUDING SUMMARY

The tremendous talent, expertise, energy, and enthusiasm resident in ONDCP’s 

workforce is being leveraged to enrich the quality of professional and personal lives of 

the entire staff. Through the activities of the White House Council on Women and Girls 

and the corresponding Coordinating Council at ONDCP, the agency is facilitating 

opportunities for its staff which are unprecedented. Concurrently, the agency’s experts 

in substance abuse prevention, treatment, enforcement, and supply reduction are 

working with their colleagues at the Federal, state, and local level to reduce drug 

production, trafficking, and abuse and its negative impacts on women, children, and all 

Americans.