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)
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Source: Voice of America
.