ANTI-DRUG POLICY PROPOSAL INCLUDES HELP FOR ADDICTS

WASHINGTON - President Bush set a goal Tuesday of cutting the use of
illegal drugs in the United States by 10 percent over two years and 25
percent over five years as he unveiled a national drug-control strategy.

The program, which the president said is "in the center of our
national agenda," is built on three elements: disrupting the market
for illegal drugs, helping to treat drug users, and preventing drug
use among those who have not gotten involved with it.

In seeking to balance efforts to reduce demand for drugs and reduce
supplies that took root when Bush's father was president, the proposal
marks a sharp turn in government anti-drug policy.

"We're determined to limit drug supply, to reduce demand and to
provide addicts with effective and compassionate drug treatment," the
president said.

Bush also linked the campaign against drugs to the anti-terrorist
campaign. Citing the support he said terrorist networks get from
selling drugs, whether in South America or Afghanistan, Bush said:
"When people purchase drugs, they put money in the hands of those who
want to hurt America, hurt our allies."

In the budget sent last week to Congress, the administration proposed
spending $3.8 billion for drug treatment, increasing that funding more
than 6 percent over the current fiscal year. It is also seeking to
spend $2.3 billion on drug interdiction efforts along the borders, a
10 percent increase.

For Bush, the matter reaches beyond one of policy to one of personal
concern. His niece, Noelle, 24, the daughter of Gov. Jeb Bush of
Florida, has been accused of prescription drug fraud. Her lawyer said
last Friday that she has been admitted to a drug treatment program.