Drugs are in nearly every town and schoolyard in this country. We have certainly made some headway and have clearly shown our commitment to dealing with the problem, but in my opinion, treatment and prevention always get the short end of the stick. Let me just highlight a few of the key provisions in the bill. This legislation provides funding to treat prisoners before release so they do not return to our streets with the same addiction problem that got them into trouble in the first place. The bill also provides funding for drug treatment in rural and economically depressed areas because the latest research shows that kids in rural areas are more likely than kids in large urban areas to use certain kinds of drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine.
Law enforcement understands that treatment and prevention are key.
That is why this bill has the support of the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the National District Attorney's Association, and the National Crime Prevention Council. Mr. Chairman, I want to take a minute to address a critical issue. Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disease. Studies show that the longer an addict spends in treatment, the greater the chances that the treatment will be successful. Sadly, only two million of the estimated five million people who need drug treatment are receiving it.