HOUSE PANEL TOLD ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - America's campaign against drugs, which includes
youth prevention initiatives such as the DARE program, is succeeding beyond
the government's expectations, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.

However, there is still much more work to be done, cautioned Barry
McCaffrey, the director of the National Drug Control Policy office.

"No matter what we teach our children about math or science, if they become
addicted to drugs their dreams of success will never be realized," McCaffrey
told a House subcommittee on education and the work force.

"Youth drug prevention programs are not enough," he said. "Parents are
critical to its further success."

Although overall drug use in the United States is now half the level of the
1970s, one in four 12th graders are current drug users, according to
research by the drug control office. President Clinton is asking Congress
for an increase of $735 million to the federal drug-control budget for next
year which totals $17.8 billion.

McCaffrey estimated that drug abuse costs the nation $110 billion each year
in increased social costs.

"It is far easier, and much less expensive, to prevent a drug or alcohol
addiction than to treat one," he said.