TREATMENT MEASURE BLASTED

Barry McCaffrey, the nation's drug czar, is urging Californians to reject a
measure on the Nov. 7 statewide ballot that he says would strip the state's
drug courts of their power.

The initiative would require that certain nonviolent drug offenders to
undergo treatment instead of incarceration.

McCaffrey told the National Association of Drug Court Professionals that it
would be damaging because it would eliminate drug testing and prevent drug
courts from punishing offenders who do not comply with treatment.