JUNKIE AMERICA FEEDS THE DRUG TRADE

Your Dec. 4 editorial "The Presidency and Drugs" was off the mark in several critical areas. It mistakenly concludes that the administration is advocating the militarization of the U.S.Mexico border, which is exactly what we don't want to do. Our challenge is to keep commerce flowing and also stop drugs. Last year, more than three million trucks entered the U.S. from Mexico 900,000 thousand were inspected and cocaine was found in just 16. Adding more troops to the border won't resolve the drugtrafficking problem. However, the response we are developing relies on prudent deployment of manpower and advanced technology to give Customs Service and
Border Patrol the tools they need to stop drug trafficking.

In your editorial you state that "White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey locked horns with Defense Secretary William Cohen over the Pentagon's budgeting of $809 million for counternarcotics activity. Reportedly the retired fourstar general called the budget inadequate and refused to certify it." Monitoring the budgetary process is part of my legal responsibility to ensure that all 50plus federal agencies support the president's balanced drug strategy.

The National Drug Control Strategy's top priority is reducing the domestic consumption of illegal drugs. This year, the administration proposed a historic national antidrug media campaign to teach children the risks associated with drugs like marijuana, methamphetamines and heroin. The campaign will also encourage parents to talk with their kids about drugs. Thankfully, congressional support resulted in the allocation of $195 million for this educational campaign. Next month, ads will start airing in 12 cities. This will be a publicprivate venture involving the Partnership
for a DrugFree America, the Ad Council, and community and civic organizations across the country.

Americans must recognize that the $57 billion we spend each year on cocaine, marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs are a driving force behind the sophisticated and ruthless international drug trade. While U.S. consumption and spending on drugs has declined 33% since
1988, our demand must be curtailed further. Six percent of the population now uses illegal drugs. Our goal is to reduce this figure by half over the next 10 years.

We need America's parents, coaches, teachers, mentors, ministers and editors to recognize that our nation's drug problem is, in reality, a series of local epidemics. Washington can help set the conditions for success, but individual and community responses will be the deciding factor.

Barry R. McCaffrey

Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Washington