DATE= 12/3/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223633

TITLE=U-S/DRUGS (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=BILL RODGERS

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  U-S DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR BARRY MCCAFFREY SAYS IT WILL 

TAKE TEN YEARS OF INTENSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS

TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE DEMAND AND CONSUMPTION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS 

IN THE UNITED STATES.  THE U-S DRUG CZAR MADE THE COMMENT 

WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY WASHINGTON CONFERENCE THAT 

BROUGHT TOGETHER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM 

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  VOA'S BILL RODGERS HAS DETAILS.



TEXT:  NATIONAL DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR MCCAFFREY SAYS SIX PERCENT 

OF THE MORE THAN 250-MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES 

ARE BELIEVED TO BE USING ILLEGAL DRUGS.  DESPITE THIS HIGH 

PERCENTAGE, THE U-S DRUG CZAR BELIEVES PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO 

REDUCE DEMAND AND CONSUMPTION.  HOWEVER, HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE A 

LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM. 



                      /// MCCAFFREY ACT ///



         WHAT WE'RE ARGUING FOR IS A TEN YEAR RATIONAL EFFORT 

         THAT WATCHES NUMBERS AND ADJUSTS POLICY, SO THAT WE CAN 

         END UP A DECADE FROM NOW WITH A THIRD OF THE DRUG USE 

         WE'RE NOW THREATENED BY.  AND I WILL BET YOU, AND THESE 

         PEOPLE FROM ACROSS AMERICA ARE TELLING ME -- WE CAN 

         ACHIEVE THAT, THAT'S OUR PURPOSE. 



                         ///END ACT/// 



GENERAL MCCAFFREY SPOKE WEDNESDAY AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY 

CONFERENCE OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ANTI-DRUG OFFICIALS.  

MOST OF THESE OFFICIALS COME FROM 22 PLACES ACROSS THE UNITED 

STATES THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS HIGH-INTENSITY DRUG 

TRAFFICKING AREAS, OR "HIDTAS".  A REPORT WAS RELEASED AT THE END

OF THE CONFERENCE DESCRIBING THE STRATEGIES IN EACH OF THESE 

LOCALES FOR CONFRONTING THE DRUG THREAT.  



THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE REGIONAL COORDINATION OF ANTI-DRUG 

EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.  ACCORDING TO GENERAL MCCAFFREY,  

THE DESIGNATION OF THESE HIGH-INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS --

THE FIRST FIVE OF WHICH WERE CREATED IN 1990 -- AND THE INCREASED

FUNDING THEY ARE NOW RECEIVING -- REPRESENT A MAJOR NEW 

INITIATIVE BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT.  



                       ///MCCAFFREY ACT///



         THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT THE NEW EFFORT IS 25 MILLION 

         (DOLLARS) TO 160 MILLION, FIVE HIDTAS TO 22, A GROWING 

         RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS  NOT  A FEDERALLY-DIRECTED 

         PROGRAM, BUT A FEDERALLY-SUPPORTED EFFORT BASED ON 

         REGIONAL COUNTER-DRUG EFFORTS....  THIS IS A MAJOR 

         INITIATIVE OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO COMMITT OURSELVES TO

         COORDINATED REGIONAL EFFORTS IN THE COUNTERDRUG ARENA.  



                          ///END ACT///



ONE CONCLUSION REACHED AT THE CONFERENCE IS THAT THE DRUG MENACE 

IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.  THAT IS, AS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS GAIN

GROUND AGAINST THE PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING OF ONE KIND OF DRUG

-- ANOTHER TAKES ITS PLACE.



                        /// REST OPT ///



THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE OF METHAMPHETAMINE, WHICH CONFERENCE 

PARTICIPANTS SAY IS RAPIDLY REPLACING COCAINE AS A NEW THREAT.  

THE SHERIFF OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, LARRY SMITH TOLD V-O-A 

METHAMPHETAMINE HAS BECOME THE DRUG OF CHOICE FOR MANY YOUNG 

PEOPLE.



                        ///SMITH ACT///  



         METHAMPHETAMINE IS EASIER AND CHEAPER TO PRODUCE THAN 

         COCAINE.  IT CAN BE PRODUCED DOMESTICALLY AND HAS BEEN. 

         IT IS BECOMING THE DRUG OF CHOICE AMONG A LOT OF THE 

         YOUTH AND IT HAS GAINED WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE IN THE 

         HEARTLAND OF AMERICA.   IT HAS SIMPLY BECOME THE DRUG OF

         CHOICE AMONG A LOT OF YOUNG USERS.



                          ///END ACT///



ALLUDING TO THE SPREAD OF DRUGS LIKE METHAMPHETAMINE, GENERAL 

MCCAFFREY CHARACTERIZED AMERICA'S DRUG PROBLEM AS A SERIES OF 

LOCAL EPIDEMICS THAT ARE BEST ADDRESSED WITH LOCAL STRATEGIES. 

(SIGNED) 



NEB/WFR/MMK



03-Dec-97 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.