MCCAFFREY TO LEAVE U.S. DRUG CONTROL POLICY OFFICE

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House drug control policy director Barry
McCaffrey announced on Monday he will resign two weeks before the
inauguration of President Clinton's successor in January.

In a statement McCaffrey said he will leave his job on Jan. 6, meaning he
would not be a part of the next administration. Either Democratic Vice
President Al Gore or Republican Texas Gov. George W. Bush will be
inaugurated as the next president on Jan. 20.

McCaffrey, a retired Army general, will be concluding 40 years of public
service. He plans to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

McCaffrey said he appreciated Clinton's commitment to reducing drug abuse
as well as the bipartisan support of the Republican-controlled Congress.

"Since 1996 we have taken important strides in addressing a problem that
costs our society 52,000 deaths and more than $110 billion every year," he
said.

McCaffrey played a key role in persuading Congress to approve $1.3 billion
to help the Colombian government fight the drug trade. Colombia produces 90
percent of the cocaine in the U.S. market as well as up to two-thirds of
the heroin on the East Coast.

McCaffrey said he was proud that adolescent drug-use rates have decreased
by 21 percent over the past two years and that drug-related crime has
dropped dramatically.

"Drug-related murders are at their lowest point in over a decade, dropping
by more than 50 percent since 1989," he said.

Bush has attacked the Clinton administration's record on drug control and
pledged to do more to reduce America's dependence on illegal drugs if elected.