DRUG CZAR DISCUSSES NEW INITIATIVE

LOUISVILLE John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy,
discussed a new plan on Thursday to expand and improve the nation's
substance abuse treatment programs.

Walters gave details of President Bush's "Access to Recovery" treatment
initiative which will create a voucher program to provide people with drug
or alcohol dependencies with better treatment options and treatment centers
with more resources.

Walters, who spoke at Louisville's Volunteers of America center, said he
came to Kentucky to discuss this national effort because of the drug
problems facing this region.

"I know from the national data that we have that this area of the country
has particularly and disproportionately been affected by substance abuse,"
Walters said. In 2001, 1,560 people entered Louisville-area emergency rooms
for drug-related incidents and 2,124 people were participating in
Louisville-area drug treatment programs.

"I know that the disproportionate effect here has caused a strain, but it
has also obviously caused the creation of some remarkable institutions. We
are aware that these institutions are under strain," Walters said, adding
that this strain is what led the federal government to create the new program.

With the Access to Recovery program, those suffering from substance abuse
will be given vouchers that will allow them to receive the treatment they
need at a center participating in the program. States will be able to
receive grant money and get their centers involved by submitting proposals.

The $600 million for the program would be used to reimburse participating
centers for treating patients with vouchers.

Walters said the Access to Recovery program will help progress Bush's plan
to increase substance abuse treatment funding by $1.6 billion over the next
five years.

Press Secretary Jennifer de Vallance said if the plan is approved by the
federal appropriations committee this fall the program could begin in early
2004.