DEA PUSHES 'DEMAND REDUCTION'

WASHINGTON -- The Drug Enforcement Administration will step up prevention
and treatment programs by adding more agents to work with local police and
community groups to fight drug abuse.

The agency will more than double the number of full-time special agents to
set up long-term anti-drug programs with police, schools, churches and
other agencies. The DEA currently has 22 "demand reduction" agents around
the country.

"Agents are tired of dismantling an organization and a year later come back
and see that they've moved in again or another organization has," said DEA
chief Asa Hutchinson.

The agency will spend nearly $5 million over the next two years to add
agents in the field.

Hutchinson stressed that pushing treatment and prevention programs would
not diminish the DEA's core law enforcement mission of investigating and
arresting drug dealers.

"There should not be any competition between the enforcement side and the
demand reduction side," said Hutchinson.

The agents also will encourage communities to establish drug courts that
allow nonviolent first-time offenders to receive treatment and counseling
rather than jail time.

The initiative aims to expand the DEA's role in treatment and prevention
programs and reflects Hutchinson's desire to emphasize rehabilitation.

The agency usually waits until after a drug bust to send in agents to work
with local communities on drug treatment and prevention programs. Under the
new program, "the DEA will combine the enforcement effort with a
partnership alongside any existing community coalitions to have a
long-lasting impact to reduce demand through drug prevention and treatment
programs," according to a program description.

That includes working with communities to set up drug testing programs,
drug courts, drug treatment programs and police training.