Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
Source: Palm Beach Post (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Palm Beach Post
Contact:  P.O. Box 24700, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4700
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Author: Philip V. Bulone

OFFICE DOESN'T NEED EX-POL

I recently read that former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum wants to apply to 
be drug czar in the Bush administration. He says, "I'm interested in 
it because I really care about the subject."

We have had drug czars going as far back as President Carter's 
administration when he appointed the first drug policy chief, Peter 
Bourne. He had been chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at St. 
George University Medical School in Grenada. Mr. Bourne was followed 
by czars such as William Bennett, an educator, then by former Florida 
Gov. Bob Martinez, then ex-New York City Police Commissioner Lee 
Brown, and, most recently, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey.

What's missing from the credentials of all these past drug czars is 
any experience in dealing with the disease of addiction. I am a 
retired law-enforcement officer and former member of the Advisory 
Committee to the New York State Senate Subcommittee on Alcohol and 
Drug Abuse, now working in substance-abuse treatment. I know the 
dangers police face as they fight our war against drugs and can 
attest to the fact that the police do the best they can but will 
never rid our nation of the scourge of drug abuse.

What is needed is more money spent on treatment and prevention 
programs. Out of Gen. McCaffrey's last of budget of $19.5 billion, 
less than $3 billion was for treatment.

It's time that our new president considers appointing someone to the 
position of drug czar with experience in drug treatment. Unless the 
next czar has knowledge of addiction and what effects it has on the 
abuser and his or her family, the problem will only escalate. The 
next drug czar needs to understand that drug addiction is a disease 
and should be treated as such.

PHILIP V. BULONE

Boynton Beach
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