The OIG has identified two issues in JMD's response to our draft report, (see Appendix XII), that we believe should be addressed. As a result, we are providing the following comments on JMD's response to the draft report.

The first comment in JMD's response states, ". . . the OIG consider the November 4, 2002 Department of Health and Human Services letter that advises the National Household Survey Changed its methodology and cannot be relied upon for trend information."

The November 4, 2002, Department of Health and Human Services letter, (see Appendix XIII, page 95), identifies changes in the methodology used to conduct the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), formerly the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The letter also identifies concerns related to comparing estimates based on data from the 2002 NSDUH with estimates based on data from surveys conducted prior to 2002 because of the methodology changes. Since our audit report only includes estimates based on data from surveys conducted during 1985 through 2001, the changes to the 2002 survey methodology do not affect the data included in our report.

The second comment in JMD's response states, ". . . the audit quotes the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) 2001 Performance Report in reporting that no progress has been made in reducing youth drug use and suggests that the OIG consider the upcoming ONDCP National Drug Strategy which reflects significant progress based upon the December 2002 Monitoring the Future report."

The OIG has reviewed the upcoming draft National Drug Control Strategy attached to JMD's response. It should be noted that the document provided by JMD was marked as a draft for "Internal Use Only - Not for Dissemination outside ONDCP"; as a result, we did not include this document in our report. In our audit report we note that teen drug use has increased since 1992. Although the December 2002 Monitoring the Future report includes findings that indicate teens who report using certain illicit drugs has been reduced from peak levels in 1995, 1996 and 1997, there is no indication that teen drug use is down from the lower percentages reported in 1992.