Frequently Asked Questions

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is the office in the Executive Office of the President that leads the national drug control effort and coordinates the National Drug Control Program agencies (21 U.S.C. 1702(a)). It develops and oversees the National Drug Control Strategy and the drug control budget.

Statutory role. ONDCP must lead the national drug control effort, coordinate and oversee implementation of national drug control policy, assess and certify the adequacy of drug control programs and their budget, and evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts (21 U.S.C. 1702(a)).

The Director. The Director assists the President in setting policies, goals, objectives and priorities for the National Drug Control Program, promulgates the National Drug Control Strategy and coordinates implementation by the program agencies (21 U.S.C. 1703(b)).

The Strategy. The President submits a National Drug Control Strategy to Congress by the first Monday in February following the year the President's term begins, and at two-year intervals after that. The Strategy sets out a plan to reduce illicit drug use and its consequences by limiting supply, reducing demand, and promoting prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery support (21 U.S.C. 1705).

Scale. The White House says ONDCP coordinates across 19 federal agencies and oversees a $44 billion budget. It also funds the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program (White House ONDCP page).

Relationship to workplace testing. Federal workplace drug testing rules come from agencies such as DOT and HHS rather than from ONDCP's statutory duties in 21 U.S.C. 1702 to 1705. DOT rules are described in the FAQ on 49 CFR Part 40, and HHS cutoff levels are covered in the FAQ on SAMHSA cutoff levels. The FAQ on why workplace drug and alcohol testing is necessary explains the purpose of testing.

Programs. The FAQs on the Drug-Free Communities Support Program and on High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas cover those two ONDCP programs.

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program gives grants to community coalitions that work to reduce youth substance use, and a coalition must meet the eligibility criteria in 21 U.S.C. 1532 to receive an initial or renewal grant. ONDCP funds the program (White House ONDCP page).

Sector representation. A coalition must include one or more representatives of each of 12 categories: youth, parents, businesses, the media, schools, organizations serving youth, law enforcement, religious or fraternal organizations, civic and volunteer groups, health care professionals, state, local or tribal agencies with substance use expertise, and other organizations working to reduce substance use (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(2)). If feasible, the coalition must also have an elected official, or a representative of one, from the federal government and from the state and local or tribal government (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(2)(B)).

Track record. The coalition's representatives must have worked together on substance use reduction initiatives for at least six months, with substantial participation from volunteer community leaders (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(3)).

Mission and evaluation. The coalition's principal mission must be reducing substance use and misuse with a primary focus on youth (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(4)). Coalitions must conduct an initial benchmark survey of youth drug use and biennial surveys to measure progress (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(6)).

Grant limits. A grant may not exceed $125,000 for a fiscal year, and the amount is tied to the non-Federal funds the coalition raises, including in-kind contributions (21 U.S.C. 1532(b)).

Where employers fit. Businesses are one of the 12 required sectors (21 U.S.C. 1532(a)(2)). The FAQ on drug-free workplace program components describes workplace programs, and the FAQ on the benefits of drug testing employees explains reasons employers test.

Background. The FAQ on what ONDCP is explains the office that funds the program.

A High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) is a region the ONDCP Director designates for federal assistance after considering statutory factors, including whether the area is a significant center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation or distribution (21 U.S.C. 1706(b) and (d)). The program supports coordinated law enforcement strategies to reduce the supply of illegal drugs.

Designation. The Director designates areas in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the heads of National Drug Control Program agencies and the Governor of each state involved (21 U.S.C. 1706(b)(1)).

Factors. The Director considers whether the area is a significant drug trafficking center, whether state, local and tribal law enforcement have committed resources, whether drug activity is having a significant harmful impact, and whether a significant increase in federal resources is needed (21 U.S.C. 1706(d)).

Executive Board. Each HIDTA must be governed by an Executive Board to receive funds. The board sets goals, manages funds, reviews funding proposals and approves reports to the Director. Votes must be split equally between federal agencies and state, local and tribal agencies (21 U.S.C. 1706(e)).

Funding limits. The Director must make sure that no more than 5 percent of federal program funds go to substance use disorder treatment and drug prevention programs (21 U.S.C. 1706(f)).

Drug topics. The FAQ on what fentanyl is and the FAQ on methamphetamine describe these drugs. Testing changes are covered in the news post on DOT's proposal to add fentanyl to drug testing panels.

Background. The FAQ on what ONDCP is explains the office that runs the program.