In the year 2005, Karen P. Tandy, Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, addressed Chinese representatives in Hong Kong. The topics of the speech were legitimate drugs on the illegitimate market, methamphetamine treatment and prevention and world unification against the abuse of drugs. Ms. Tandy mentioned the growing Internet drug market and suggested strategies to unify across the globe. She reviewed the drug cartels and confronted China, asking the nation to stand with the United States and other countries to stop drug cartels and international drug smugglers to decrease drug abuse globally.
Iran received congratulatory remarks from Roberto Arbitrio, the representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the Iran office. Mr. Arbitrio reviewed drug abuse in Iran compared to the global abuse statistics. The speech continued to review Iran's efforts to reform narcotic drug abusers and illustrated Iran's high success rate in rehabilitation efforts.
Mr. Schaffer, a student at Fullerton Community College, prepared a speech reviewing possible medical reasons behind drug use, which leads to abuse. The speech shares a personal story of his mother's agonizing nerve pain that went unchecked because doctors were afraid to use medicine that is highly addictive, highly abused and illegal. He reviewed the legal history of pain alleviation with drugs such as morphine and marijuana. Mr. Schaffer argues that some of these available drugs should be prescribed under careful medical observation to relieve chronic pain and improve the quality of life for many people.
The presidency of Ronald Reagan was punctuated by Mrs. Nancy Reagan's valiant war on drugs. From 1980 to1988, Mrs. Reagan traveled the country, speaking to youth and encouraging workplaces and schools to become drug-free areas. The Reagans gathered in the West Hall living quarters of the White House in 1986 to discuss Mrs. Reagan's work and progress. Statistics from the DEA were discussed, current issues reviewed, and an urgent message from Mrs. Reagan was presented. Mrs. Reagan appealed to young people to "Just Say No" and start anti-drug clubs in their schools. She also encouraged businesses to become drug-free work zones.