Mactas attributes the public's poor assessment of federal drug-control programs to unrealistic expectations. Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke has called for the federal government to create a national commission to study how all drugs, legal and illegal, might be regulated. Meanwhile, agency heads expect the impact of their programs to become more apparent in the future. The DEA's Constantine agrees. It might take 10 or 15 years of tremendous effort to get out.
Agencies wrestle with the drug crisis on three fronts.
Other domestic efforts include programs operated by the departments of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Justice to expand and improve the drug-treatment system, research medications for treating addiction, and incorporate drug treatment into the criminal justice system. And HHS and the Department of Education administer federal prevention initiatives, which include disseminating prevention information and ensuring that federally funded educational institutions implement drug prevention programs. Along the U.S. border, the Coast Guard, the Customs Service, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service attempt to interdict and destroy drugs entering the country by land, air, and sea. The Defense Department provides detection, monitoring and intelligence support. Only certified countries may receive foreign aid from the United States.