The New York Times

Friday, February 13, 1998

PRESIDENT TO SET A GOAL OF CUTTING DRUG DEMAND

By The New York Times

Washington, Feb. 12 - President Clinton is expected to set a goal of cutting in half the demand for illegal drugs by the year 2007, White House officials said today.

The goal, to be announced in Mr. Clinton's radio address on Saturday, will be accompanied by setting a target of also cutting in half the flow of drugs into the nation from abroad by that year, the officials said.

Gen. Barry R. McCaffey, the White House drug policy chief, said in an interview today that the Administration thought it was important to set specific goals. General McCaffey said the key to reducing drug demand in the United States was to discourage and prevent high school students from getting involved with alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes while in their teen-age years.

General McCaffey said studies consistently showed that if someone grew up without using marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes from about 8th to the 12th grade, "we have saved them from being drug-prone for the rest of their lives."

The White House budget for battling narcotics is about $17.1 million this year, about 12 percent of which is to be used to discourage young people from using drugs.