U.S. TO EXTEND DRUG TREATMENT, TARGET TRAFFICKERS

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The United States unveiled plans on Wednesday
to extend its "war on drugs" through education campaigns, improved treatment
access and disruptions of overseas drug markets.

The Office for National Drug Control Policy, bolstered by new funding,
including an extra $600 million for addiction treatment vouchers, said in
its 2003 strategy report that youth drug use had begun to decline for the
first time in 10 years.

John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said
the funds would help his office meet the White House goal of reducing drug
use by 10 percent over two years and 25 percent over five years.

Walter's organization estimated 16 million Americans used illegal drugs and
about 6 million needed addiction treatment.

Adding to existing initiatives like advertising campaigns and research
programs, Walters said his office worked with foreign authorities to disrupt
drug trafficking in countries like Colombia, Mexico and Canada.

The White House has allocated $2.1 billion for drug interdiction in its 2004
budget -- 7.3 percent more than in 2003 -- targeting marijuana, cocaine,
heroin, methamphetamine and Ecstasy.

It also requested $731 million in funding for the Andean Counterdrug
Initiative, which targets Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru
and Venezuela.

Walters said the funding and increased cooperation with foreign authorities
would help make the drug trade more dangerous and less profitable for
smugglers, reducing the quantity of drugs that reach the United States.

"Drug users respond to market forces because the drug trade is a market. We
must make drugs scarce, expensive, and of unreliable quality," he said.

Critics of U.S. drug policies denounced Walters' report, saying it masked
problems with prison and law enforcement costs.

"The drug war has always been a money pit, but this is funny math at its
worst," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy
Alliance.