DATE=6/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233528
TITLE=DRUGS / U-S (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP OFFICIALS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION STRESSED TODAY
(MONDAY) THE U-S APPROACH TO FIGHTING ILLEGAL DRUGS -- OUTLINED
BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN A SPEECH TO THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY --
EMPHASIZES A BALANCE BETWEEN REDUCING DRUG PRODUCTION AND DRUG
USE AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF DRUG USERS.
CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: BARRY MCCAFFREY -- THE WHITE HOUSE ANTI-DRUG COORDINATOR
-- TOLD REPORTERS THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS IS NOT A WAR
THAT HAS BEEN FOUGHT AND LOST. RATHER, HE CALLED IT THE
BEGINNING OF AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT WHICH HAS SEEN ENORMOUS
BEGINNING SUCCESS IN THAILAND, IN PAKISTAN, IN PERU AND SOME
INITIAL PROGRESS IN BOLIVIA.
/// MCCAFFREY ACTUALITY ///
WE BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE TO VERY DRASTICALLY SLASH THE
PRODUCTION OF THESE ILLEGAL DRUGS AND EVEN MORE
IMPORTANTLY TO REDUCE DRUG DEMAND. AND CERTAINLY
THAILAND IS A MODEL TO MANY OF US TO ALSO REDUCE THE
DEMAND COEFFICIENT. THE UNITED STATES, AS THE PRESIDENT
MENTIONED, HAS ALSO SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED, FOR EXAMPLE,
COCAINE CONSUMPTION BY MORE THAN 70-PERCENT IN THE LAST
DECADE.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
GENERAL MCCAFFREY MET WITH REPORTERS AT THE UNITED NATIONS
SHORTLY AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPEECH.
MANY OF THE INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES ATTENDING THE SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE DRUG ISSUE HAD SEEN FULL-PAGE
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS ARGUING THE GLOBAL WAR ON DRUGS IS
CAUSING MORE HARM THAN DRUG ABUSE AND URGING SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES.
THE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT -- SIGNED BY HUNDREDS OF PROMINENT
PEOPLE, INCLUDING FORMER U-N SECRETARY GENERAL PEREZ DE CUELLAR
AND FORMER U-S SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE SHULTZ -- DOES NOT
SUGGEST ANY SPECIFIC ALTERNATIVE. BUT SOME OF THE SIGNATORIES IN
THE PAST HAVE URGED THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF CERTAIN DRUGS.
ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SECRETARY DONNA SHALALA REJECTED THE LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS.
/// RENO / SHALALA ACTUALITY ///
RENO: I AM OPPOSED TO THE LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS BECAUSE
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO WERE
ABUSERS WERE MOTIVATED INTO TREATMENT BY THE THREAT OF
SANCTION. AND I THINK THE BALANCED APPROACH THAT
INCLUDES VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT AND FOCUS ON TRAFFICKERS
AND APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS AGAINST USERS COUPLED WITH
TREATMENT CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT.
SHALALA: IN PARTICULAR, WE BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUES OUGHT TO BE BASED ON SCIENCE AND THERE IS CLEAR
EVIDENCE THAT MARIJUANA IS DANGEROUS TO OUR HEALTH.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
MS. SHALALA ADDED, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SOFT DRUG.
(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/LSF/RAE
08-Jun-98 1:45 PM EDT (1745 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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