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Vice Chair Carol Lankford meets the President of the United States

By Alyssa Kelly

WASHINGTON D.C. - Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council Vice Chair Carol Lankford had the opportunity to meet President Bush recently in a meeting that had taken place on December 11, in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Hosted by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the meeting's intent was to discuss monitoring a future study on teen drug use.

According to a press release provided by representatives of the White House, in 2002, the President set a goal of reducing youth drug use by 25 percent in a five-year time span. Since then, the Administration has implemented a balanced strategy that emphasizes prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Due to the policies and programs implemented at the Federal, State, and local levels, there are 860,000 fewer young people using drugs today than there were in 2001.

"We would fight the demand for drugs here at home through prevention and treatment. In other words, our strategy was balance: On one hand, we'll interdict and prevent and disrupt the drug supply networks, and on the other hand, we'll work to convince people they shouldn't use drugs in the first place; and those that have, there's a prevention-there's recovery programs for you," stated President Bush during the event.

The meeting brought forth representatives of the teen drug use prevention cause from all across the nation. Some representatives included former (teen) users who overcame their addictions due to youth programs as well as representatives of youth programs that have helped teens overcome their addiction. Another guest included the President of Mexico, (ambassador) Felipe Calderon.

"I am pleased to be here with the men and women who have enlisted, have signed up, in our country's fight against illegal drugs. You battle an unrelenting evil that ruins families, endangers neighborhoods and stalks our children. You're part of a mission that will shape our nation's future. You're fulfilling the highest calling of citizenship-you're giving fellow Americans the chance for a better life. And I thank you," stated President Bush during the event.

Vice Chair Lankford was invited to take part in the meeting for her work in the effort to eliminate methamphetamine production, trafficking, and use in Indian Country. She was the only Native American representative to attend. According to a press release provided by the White House Lankford was personally touched by devastating consequences of methamphetamine in her own family and has led anti-methamphetamine prevention and education efforts for young people. She helped facilitate a partnership between the National Congress of American Indian, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Partnership for a Drug Free America to bring culturally relevant and effective anti-methamphetamine messaging to Indian Country.

The meeting was filmed by ABC World News Tonight and aired on the same date.