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
.