As this country's first appointed "drug czar," William Bennett developed a set of proposals for a national campaign against drug abuse. These included: expanding the national prison capacity by 85 percent; providing additional fiscal support for states and local areas that adopt anti-drug laws; and increasing the availablility of programs designed to rehabilitate abusers. In many ways, however, these legalistic, punitive, and rehabilitative approaches constitute a repackaging of old policies that primarily focus on symptom reduction instead of problem cessation and, as such, this plan is inadequate. This article accordingly presents an alternative compilation of strategies, reflecting a comprehensive, developmental, systematic approach to the current drug crisis. These strategies include: strengthening the family; supporting students, teachers, and schools in the fight against drug abuse; preventive efforts among high-risk teenagers; enlisting industry in drug prevention; and restoring funding for community-based programs. It is contended that funding for these initiatives could be obtained by shifting $6 billion from the defense budget. Particular attention is directed to the role of mental health specialists, educators, and their professional organizations in providing the type of supportive leadership necessary to complement an effective "war against drugs" in the United States. References are included. (TE)