A Nation of Narcotics: Drug Control Policies from Nixon’s DEA to the Fentanyl Crisis

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Panels and Luncheon Remarks

America is plagued with a deadly epidemic of fentanyl that is little understood, while government policies continue to fail to address root causes of the crisis.

You’re invited to attend a thought-provoking conference with drug policy and addiction treatment experts on drug control and interdiction policies in America, from the establishment of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1973 to the pressing challenges of today’s fentanyl crisis.

The conference at the Nixon Library will shed light on the genesis of the Nixon administration’s drug control policies —which remain among the most misunderstood of his administration— subsequent administrations’ successes and defeats, lessons learned from half a century of drug control efforts, and examine current addiction treatment efforts and techniques proven effective in today’s society.

SCHEDULE

9:00 AM –  Check-in & Coffee Reception

9:30 AM – Panel Discussion

A Nation’s First: Understanding the Nixon Administration’s Drug Control Policy

Panelists:

John Coleman, 33 year career officer with Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the Drug Enforcement Administration (1965-98)

Jeffrey Donfeld, Staff Assistant, White House Domestic Council (1969-71), Assistant Director, Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (1972-73)

Dr. Robert DuPont, Founding Administrator, Narcotics Treatment Administration (1970- 73), Director, White House Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (1973-75), First Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (1973-78)

Dr. Jerome Jaffe, Drug Czar under the Nixon administration

Geoff Shepard, Moderator, White House Fellow (1969-70), Associate Director, White House Domestic Council (1970-74)

11:00 AM – Panel Discussion

A Nation of Narcotics: Combating the Country’s Addiction and Fentanyl Crisis

Panelists:

Tara Nierenhausen, Executive Director of Community’s Child with almost 50 years’ of experience providing educational and support services to women, children and families

Ed Storti, Author and international intervention specialist and developer of The Storti Model of Intervention, a special method of addictive disease intervention

Bill Woodbury, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with 35 years of experience in the field of Substance Use Disorder

Maureen Nunn, Moderator, Emmy award-winning television host, author, educator and certified drug and alcohol counselor

12:15 PM – Luncheon with Keynote Remarks

Keynote Remarks by Judge Robert Bonner

Judge Robert Bonner, former Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the first Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and United States District Judge