TEEN DRUG USE IS FALLING

A JAN. 4 NEWS story, which criticized Barry McCaffrey and the national drug
policy, omitted the record of real results as laid out in the National Drug
Strategy Report cited by reporter John Donnelly ("US report details losses
in drug fight," Page A1, Jan. 4). Over the past two years,
12-to-17-year-olds' drug use fell 21 percent (according to the respected
Household Survey) and 34 percent over the past three years (according to
the Pride Survey of more than 100,000 youths).

The number of drug-related murders dropped to the lowest point in over a
decade, and workplace drug use has fallen to an 11 year low. Our source
zone efforts cut coca cultivation in Peru by 66 percent and in Bolivia by
55 percent since 1995, and Andean coca cultivation is down nearly 20
percent overall.

In addition, McCaffrey made prevention a top priority. The $1 billion
five-year youth antidrug media campaign is having a positive impact. it
reaches 95 percent of parents and teens over seven times per week.

We shifted the way the criminal-justice system handles drug criminals away
from just "tough on crime" to breaking the cycle of drugs and crime. The
government had found that 62 percent of arrestees have tested positive for
drugs.

The dramatic improvements are the direct result of the balanced and
effective approach that White House Drug Policy Director Barry McCaffrey
helped to engineer.

Robert S. Weiner is Chief of Press Relations, Office of National Drug
Control Policy, Washington D.C.