U.S. DRUG CZAR MAKES STOP IN DENVER AT START OF 25-CITY TOUR

For nine years, Nichol Hinderlider battled drug and alcohol addiction.

And she hasn't even reached the legal drinking age.

The 19-year-old was one of 12 young adults in the STAR treatment program
who met with John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy on Wednesday.

Denver was the drug czar's first stop on his tour of 25 cities to talk with
state officials about President Bush's new drug treatment plan.

"We're not going to do the job in Washington," Walters said, "but we're
going to stand with the people who work to get the job done."

Over the next three years, states will receive $600 million from the
federal government for drug treatment programs such as STAR - Starting
Transitions and Recovery.

Walters said the money will be distributed according to need.

"Denver has been particularly hard hit by cocaine moving from the south,"
Walters said. He added that Denver also has problems with marijuana because
people don't take it seriously.

More needs to be done on research, prevention and treatment, said Adam
Brickner, director of the office of drug strategies in Denver.

"We're like ostriches sticking our heads in the sand," Brickner said. "Out
of every $100 spent for the effects of drug abuse, 6 cents are spent on
research, prevention and treatment."

The rest, he said, funds prisons, police officers, human services and
foster care. Money from this new grant will be applied to research,
prevention and treatment.

In addition to treating addicts, STAR helps with housing, employment and
education. Hinderlider, who is attending Community College of Denver, has
lived in a 17-unit apartment building in the Congress Park neighborhood for
four months while working with STAR.

She says the STAR program got her off the streets and into a home.

"What I was doing - using drugs and sleeping on the street - was getting
old," she said. "I wanted to learn a new way to live."