Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Copyright: 2000 Denver Publishing Co. Contact: 400 W. Colfax, Denver, CO 80204 Website: http//www.denver-rmn.com/ Author: Janet L. Crist Note: Janet L. Crist is Chief Of Staff, Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, D.C. DRUG CONTROL OFFICE PROTECTING PUBLIC PURSE The recent story, along with its misleading headline "GAO 'looking for fraud' at drug czar's office," was seriously in error and damaged the reputation of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and its director. Neither the "drug czar" nor the office are targets of a "fraud probe." In fact, congressional inquiries into expenses associated with the national youth anti-drug media campaign followed our aggressive actions to protect the public purse. The ONDCP, not the General Accounting Office, is responsible for withholding payment of $18 million to other government agencies and private contractors because the reasonableness and allowability of those costs has not been established to our satisfaction. We hired outside experts to review business plans submitted by a contractor to ensure cost-effectiveness. The ONDCP first called for an audit when we noticed billing irregularities and we are transferring contract administration responsibilities from the Department of Health and Human Services to another department in order scrutinize costs more closely. The ONDCP welcomes oversight of this vital drug-prevention effort. Since its inception in 1998, adolescent drug-use rates have declined 21 percent. Americans can be proud of the campaign's enormous success. Janet L. Crist Chief Of Staff Executive Office of the President Office of National Drug Control Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart