DATE=3/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227982
TITLE=U-S/DRUG STRATEGY (L)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A PROMINENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DRUG POLICY AS INEFFECTIVE --- CRITICISM THAT
CAME WEDNESDAY AS THE NATION'S DRUG CZAR RELEASED STUDIES
INDICATING THE PROBLEM IS FAR FROM BEING RESOLVED. WE GET
DETAILS FROM VOA'S BILL RODGERS.
TEXT: REPUBLICAN SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL DESCRIBES PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S 10-YEAR DRUG STRATEGY AS A RECIPE FOR INACTION. MR.
COVERDELL, A LEADING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE, TOLD REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THE PLAN LACKS CREDIBILITY
BECAUSE -- AMONG OTHER THINGS -- IT FAILS TO SET PERFORMANCE
BENCHMARKS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE 10-YEAR PLAN -- RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR -- PROPOSES A
BROAD GOAL OF RETURNING DRUG-USE RATES TO 1992 LEVELS BY 2007.
ACHIEVING THIS TARGET WOULD MEAN A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE
PRESENT RATE OF DRUG ABUSE BY TEENAGERS. BUT SENATOR COVERDELL
CALLED ON PRESIDENT CLINTON TO TELL AMERICANS HOW HE PLANS TO WIN
THE DRUG WAR NOW, NOT 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
///COVERDELL ACT///
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, WHILE YOU ARE ON DECK,
WHILE YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
///END ACT///
THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR ADDED NO ONE EXPECTS THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION TO WIN THE DRUG WAR, BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE DOING
MORE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, MR. COVERDELL CALLED ON THE
ADMINISTRATION TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO DRUG INTERDICTION IN
THE CARIBBEAN AND ALONG THE U-S--MEXICAN BORDER.
NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY RESPONDED TO THIS
CRITICISM BY TELLING REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THE ADMINISTRATION IS
DEVELOPING WAYS TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE WHICH WILL SET YEARLY
TARGETS.
///MCCAFFREY ACT///
IN THE COMING YEAR WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO DEVELOP
ANNUAL TARGETS TO FIT THE FIVE-YEAR AND 10-YEAR POINTS.
NOW, I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMILITY ABOUT
THE RELIABILITY OF THIS SYTEM BUT ITS THE FIRST EVER.
IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO SAY DON'T JUST DESCRIBE THE INPUT
PROCESS: MAN-POWER, DOLLARS, PROGRAMS OR ANECTODAL
EVIDENCE, BUT INSTEAD IT SAYS WE INTEND TO PUT OURSELVES
ON RECORD AS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO ACHIEVING
RESULTS.
///END ACT///
THE U-S DRUG CZAR, WHO IS A RETIRED ARMY GENERAL, MADE THE
COMMENT WHILE RELEASING TWO STUDIES SHOWING THE U-S DRUG PROBLEM
IS FAR FROM BEING RESOLVED. ONE STUDY SHOWED THE NUMBER OF
HARDCORE DRUG ADDICTS IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS IS THREE TIMES
HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.. GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAID THE
STUDY USED A NEW, MORE ACCURATE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE NUMBER
OF ADDICTS -- ADDING THAT THIS NEW METHODOLOGY WILL BE ADOPTED
FOR BROADER, NATIONWIDE SURVEYS.
THE SECOND STUDY RELEASED WEDNESDAY SHOWED PRICES FOR CRACK
COCAINE AND HEROIN ARE DROPPING IN THE UNITED STATES -- IN PART
BECAUSE OF INCREASES IN SUPPLY AND TARGETTED MARKETING BY DRUG
DEALERS. BUT THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
TRYING THESE DRUGS -- A FACTOR THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO LOWER
PRICES.
GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAID WHILE THE U-S DRUG PROBLEM IS SERIOUS, HE
EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THE FIGHT TO REDUCE DEMAND, CONSUMPTION AND
TRAFFICKING IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/KL
11-Mar-98 4:51 PM EST (2151 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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