DRUG CZAR MCCAFFREY TO STEP DOWN

WASHINGTON -- The White House's high-profile drug czar Barry McCaffrey
announced Monday he's quitting, leaving behind a controversial $1 billion
anti-drug advertising campaign that congressional critics say had little
impact on curbing drug abuse in the United States.

McCaffrey, a retired U.S. Army general, said in a surprise statement that he
will leave office Jan. 6 and look for a job in the private sector.

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush blasted the Clinton
administration for not supporting McCaffrey's drug war, and said Clinton's
approach to drug abuse was "without urgency, without energy and without
success."

But McCaffrey used his resignation statement to praise President Clinton for
the support he gave the drug office.

Bill Bennett, drug czar in the Bush administration, applauded McCaffrey's
efforts, saying he is "a good and honorable man in an administration that
didn't act, lead or seem to care about the war on drugs."

McCaffrey's critics said the expensive propaganda campaigns aren't working,
and the $1 billion should instead be redirected to after-school programs and
other activities that have demonstrated they can keep kids away from drugs.

"We're more awash in drugs than ever before," said Kevin Zeese, director of
Common Sense for Drug Control.

Zeese credited McCaffrey with focusing public attention on drug abuse, but
criticized the drug czar for opposing needle exchange programs and medical
marijuana voter initiatives.