U.S. Drug Policy Director McCaffrey Stepping Down Jan. 6

October 16, 2000

WHITE HOUSE DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR BARRY R. McCAFFREY
TO STEP DOWN AFTER FIVE YEARS AS DRUG CZAR

(Washington, D.C.): General (Ret.) Barry R. McCaffrey, President
Clinton's Director of National Drug Control Policy, announced that he
will conclude his responsibilities as ONDCP Director on January 6,
2001.

Director McCaffrey expressed his strong appreciation of President
Clinton's commitment to reducing drug abuse and its consequences in
this country. Director McCaffrey said, "I am extremely grateful for
the leadership and support of this Administration and its steadfast
support of the goals and programs that constitute the National Drug
Control Strategy." He also acknowledged the invaluable bipartisan
support of Congress and the leadership of governors and mayors
nationwide. McCaffrey added: "Since 1996, we have taken important
strides in addressing a problem that costs our society fifty-two
thousand deaths and more than 110 billion dollars every year."

-- We have made prevention of drug use Goal One of this country's
anti-drug strategy. We have increased federal investment in prevention
by 53 percent -- to more than $2 billion a year -- since FY 1996.
Adolescent drug-use rates have decreased by 21 percent over the past
two years. The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign -- the largest
public-health communications campaign ever launched by the federal
campaign -- will continue to drive down drug use by Americas 68
million children.

-- We have taken important steps to reduce the drug treatment gap.
With the support and strong leadership of Health and Human Services
Secretary Donna Shalala, federal spending on treatment increased by 35
percent since FY 1996 to more than $3 billion a year. President
Clinton sent an important signal to the nation that addiction is a
chronic disease by signing an executive order directing coverage for
substance-abuse treatment for more than nine million federal employees
and their families.

-- Administration support of sound law enforcement has caused
drug-related crime to plummet. The team at the Department of Justice,
under the dedicated guidance of Attorney General Janet Reno, has had a
tremendous influence on the public safety of this nation. Drug-related
murders are at their lowest point in over a decade -- dropping by more
than 50 percent since 1989. The treatment capacity of federal
corrections facilities has increased ten-fold. The number of drug
courts -- which offer nonviolent, addicted offenders the choice of
coerced, supervised treatment in lieu of jail -- expanded from just
twelve in 1994 to approximately seven hundred today. Today,
communities are safer because of these actions.

-- International cooperation has expanded. Through the advocacy of
this Administration for cooperative approaches to the transnational
drug problem, we have changed the tenor of international discussions.
We now have a solid binational strategy with Mexico and a multilateral
evaluation mechanism under the auspices of the Organization of
American States (OAS). The commitment of President Clinton and
Congress to supporting the Government of Colombia's efforts to protect
democracy, build a just peace, and confront skyrocketing drug
production will help stem the drug crisis in the Andean ridge region.

Director McCaffrey praised the leadership of Health and Human Services
Secretary Donna Shalala, Attorney General Janet Reno, Education
Secretary Dick Riley, DEA administrators Tom Constantine and Donnie
Marshall, FBI Director Louis Freeh, and NIDA Director Alan Leshner,
among others, as instrumental in the design and implementation of a
National Drug Control Strategy that emphasizes prevention and
treatment to reduce demand, as well as law enforcement, interdiction,
and international cooperation to reduce the supply of drugs.

Director McCaffrey is now concluding forty years of continuous public
service and will pursue opportunities in the private sector.