Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 Source: Connecticut Post (CT) Copyright: 1999sConnecticut Post Contact: 410 State St., Bridgeport, CT 06604 Website: http://www.ctpost.com/ Author: Peter Urban Washington bureau HIGH DRUG ZONES TAGGED WASHINGTON The White House Tuesday designated a dozen New England counties including Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford as a "high-intensity drug-trafficking enforcement area," which could bring millions of federal law enforcement dollars to the region. The three Connecticut counties will join with nine other New England counties to share $1 million in federal aid, which will help local, state and federal law enforcement agencies coordinate efforts to break drug networks. The counties also will be able to compete for additional $185.5 million in federal grants that will be awarded this year. "I view these designations as a catalyst for law enforcement and prosecutions," said Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. "They are making a huge impact on the quality of life." McCaffrey made the announcement at a Capitol Hill press conference flanked by dozens of lawmakers, including Reps. John Larson, D-1; Rosa DeLauro, D-3; James Maloney, D-5; and Nancy Johnson, R-6. Maloney said much of the anti-drug effort funded by the program will be aimed at rooting out the Dominican and Colombian drug traffickers operating in New England. "By gaining access to these funds, our communities will have a stronger collective defense in fighting drugs," DeLauro said. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., welcomed the federal initiative, but said it was sad to have Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties named as areas with a large drug problem particularly since the counties are among the wealthiest in the nation. "Even at a time of plenty, America still has plenty of problems," Lieberman said. "Drugs are a high-intensity problem and they require a high-intensity response." Along with the 12 New England counties, several counties in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Ohio also received the designation Tuesday. The counties will join 21 high-intensity drug-trafficking enforcement areas nationwide that have received $162 million in federal grants since the program began in 1990. On a related issue, the National Institutes of Health announced Tuesday that some cocaine addicts are significantly more likely to break their addiction if they receive at least 90 days of treatment. Cocaine addicts with problems such as unemployment, poor support from family and friends, other drug or alcohol use, depression or anxiety require more intensive and lengthier treatment to overcome their drug abuse than those without such problems, according to the NIH study. "This study indicates that patients addicted to cocaine who have moderate to severe problems need at least three months of treatment to get a maximum effect," says NIDA Director Dr. Alan I. Leshner. "Clearly, these findings argue against the efforts that have been made recently to cut back on the length of drug abuse treatment in order to save money." DeLauro, Shays and Lieberman said that they recognize drug abuse requires strong prevention and treatment efforts in addition to stronger law enforcement."There is no simple response to resolve this issue. We have to keep working at it on many levels," Lieberman said. Peter Urban, who covers Washington, can be reached by e-mail - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck