Pubdate: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 1999 Houston Chronicle Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html Author: Jerry Urban CITY ENTERS PACT TO HELP REDUCE ILLEGAL DRUG USE Houston became the first city in the nation on Wednesday to enter into an agreement with the federal government to develop a new comprehensive plan designed to significantly reduce illegal drug use. During a ceremony at Wortham Center downtown, the partnership agreement between the city and the federal government was formally signed by Mayor Lee Brown and Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "We're announcing today the first of its kind," said McCaffrey, the nation's so-called drug czar. "To understand the (drug) problems and attempt to solve them, we've got to organize ourselves at the community level. We intend to use this (agreement) to produce meaningful results." The strategic plan, which includes bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement and local social service agencies, will be developed over the next year. "We will tie together information systems, No. 1," McCaffrey said. "We will develop performance targets together. We are going to try to solve obstacles to a rational drug policy. This is the first such effort to ... let the rest of the nation learn how a city successfully pulled together drug-related partnerships." Among those attending the ceremony was U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, who emphasized the plan will help Houston meet the National Drug Control Strategy goal of reducing illegal drug use by 50 percent by the year 2007. "This is the first city that will hold itself accountable on the issues of drug treatment and prevention and interdiction," said Lee, who serves on the judiciary committee, which oversees funding for the National Drug Control Policy. When questioned later by reporters, McCaffrey wasn't certain why Houston was selected to develop the plan with the federal government. He did say: "Houston will be a learning tool to find out how we can assist the community in understanding the problems, collecting data and developing standards." Ray A. Andrews, the director of Houston Crackdown, the city's anti-drug community coalition, believes Houston was selected because the city has a history of coming together to fight drug abuse. "This agreement means a lot," Andrews said. "This will help catapult some projects we've had on the front burner." Two states, Oregon and Maryland, have entered into agreements of understanding to work with the Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop comprehensive working plans to combat illegal use. McCaffrey said his office is talking to Texas officials and other states to consider similar agreements. Texas got $254 million in federal funds to fight illegal drug use last year, McCaffrey said. "Now the question is where did it go? Were performance measures effective? And how was it being integrated? Is it producing results?" he asked. "The answer is yes. But, there's room for considerable improvement." McCaffrey said federal expenditures have significantly increased in recent years for drug abuse prevention, while illegal drug use has decreased in the United States. However, he added, "it's a big problem, all over the country. Most Houston young people don't use drugs. But, unfortunately, over 50 percent of Houston high school students reported marijuana use at least once in their lifetimes. There were 56 deaths in Harris County in a single month in which drugs were detected." McCaffrey said the Houston plan "will not necessarily" involve redirecting any federal funds that the state receives to fight drug use. Brown, who preceded McCaffrey as the nation's drug czar, added: "We all share a common goal of ridding the streets of Houston of the detrimental influences of drugs on our community, particularly our children. This partnership agreement that we're signing marks an important step in achieving that goal." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea