OBAMA'S APPROACH SHOWS HIS COMMITMENT TO THE FIGHT

The Obama administration shares Buffalo News columnist Doug Turner's
belief that drug use and its consequences pose a serious threat to
public health and public safety ("Someone tell Obama, the war on drugs
is real," June 7), and President Obama has been unwavering in his
support for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In my first interview after accepting the job of director of National
Drug Control Policy, I told the Wall Street Journal that it was time
to retire the phrase "war on drugs." I said then, and continue to
believe, that a continual war footing unnecessarily limits the tools
we have available to confront this complex issue, and given the
prevalence of addiction in the United States, feeds perceptions that
the country is at war with its own citizens.

Turner suggests that acknowledging the disease of addiction, and
addressing both the public safety and public health challenges posed
by drug use and its consequences, are inconsistent with sound law
enforcement principles. However, law enforcement officials disagree.

The balanced approach of the Obama administration's 2010 National Drug
Control Strategy, released last month, has received the enthusiastic
endorsement of major law enforcement organizations, including the
National Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition and the Major
Cities Chiefs Police Association.

Rather than the "education-treatment versus law enforcement" conflict
Turner describes, the 2010 National Drug Control Policy seeks to
maximize the potential of education, treatment and law
enforcement.

The fiscal year 2011 budget proposed by the Obama administration
devotes significant new resources to implement our strategy. Funding
for prevention measures would increase by 13.4 percent and treatment
programs would receive a 3.7 percent increase. These resources will be
complemented with sustained effort to enhance domestic law
enforcement, interdiction and supply control programs.

Turner also:

. Claims that the "White House has actually cut funding for federal
antidrug work." The total proposed spending in the fiscal year 2011
National Drug Control budget represents a 3.5 percent increase over
the current fiscal year.

. Appears to blame the Obama administration for the unfortunate fact
that the Senate has not confirmed acting DEA Administrator Michelle
Leonhart. Obama nominated Leonhart in January, and we look forward to
working with her as soon as she is confirmed.

. Accurately cites my job title as Buffalo police commissioner in the
mid- 1990s, but misstates the length of my service. I served in this
position for 4z years, not 18 months.

I respect the role of the press in provoking thought and fostering
debate, but Turner's piece bears correcting.