WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

In "An American Dies in Mexico's Drug War" (Americas, Feb. 28), Mary
Anastasia O'Grady furthers an oft-repeated but untrue claim-that
American demand for illegal drugs shows "no sign of letting up."

Despite some increases in drug use over the past year, it is a fact
that the overall demand for drugs in the U.S. has dropped dramatically
over the past three decades. Thanks to sustained and comprehensive
efforts to address drug use at the local, state, federal and
international level, the number of Americans using illicit drugs today
is roughly half the rate it was in the late 1970s. More recently,
we've witnessed a 46% drop in cocaine use among young adults over the
past five years and a 65% drop in the rate of people testing positive
for cocaine in the workplace since 2006. And in Colombia, the source
of the vast majority of our cocaine, the amount of the drug produced
over the past decade has plummeted by almost two-thirds, significantly
adding stress to our domestic drug market.

We recognize that despite major gains, drug use in America is still
too high and continues to drive instability and violence in Mexico.
But we also know from efforts to reduce smoking and drunk driving that
sustained and balanced campaigns to reduce these threats are
achievable. That is why the Obama administration is committing
unprecedented resources to reducing the consumption of drugs by
requesting over $10 billion for drug education and treatment programs
for fiscal year 2012. Doing so will not only make America healthier
and safer but will also contribute to Mexico's courageous campaign to
defeat barbaric criminal organizations that threaten citizens on both
sides of our border.

Gil Kerlikowske

Director of National

Drug Control Policy

The White House

Washington