Pubdate: Sat, 04 Mar 2000 Source: Ventura County Star (CA) Copyright: 2000, Ventura County Star Contact: http://www.staronline.com/ Author: Tom Kisken SUBSTANCE ABUSE GLOBAL PROBLEM, DRUG CZAR SAYS CONFERENCE CLOSES Much of medical marijuana 'a crock,' official asserts at Reagan Library. The White House drug czar said further research is needed on the medical use of marijuana chemicals, maintaining Friday in Simi Valley that he supports anything safely helping people control pain and illness. Barry McCaffrey also blew a harsher message to the 20 or so advocates who brought a marijuana plant and a bevy of signs and banners to the entry road leading to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. "A lot of this is a crock," he said of medical marijuana. "Ask a doctor if he really wants a big blunt stuck in a patient's face as treatment." The director of the Office of National Drug Policy spoke at the final day of a national conference on addiction -- another headline name in an event that earlier featured former Secretary of Education William Bennett, former Attorney General Edwin Meese, broadcast journalist Lesley Stahl and Pulitzer Prize-winner William Safire. On a day in which several speakers lauded the ongoing efforts against substance abuse, McCaffrey bristled at what he called the misperception that the U.S. consumes the majority of the world's illegal narcotics. "It's complete nonsense," said the retired general and Vietnam War hero. "E This isn't an American problem, it's an international problem." Though some have hinted at problems, McCaffrey predicted Congress would support the proposed $1.6 billion aid package aimed at fighting drug traffickers in Colombia, the world's most prolific cocaine producer. Domestically, he said, the federal government is spending an ever-increasing amount of money to fight substance abuse. He put much of the burden on state and local governments, suggesting they need to do a better job of making sure the federal money sent through them is well spent. He praised D.A.R.E. programs and called for parents and community groups to make sure their children are supervised during after-school hours. But the drug czar railed against methamphetamine production. And he took a swipe at criminal justice systems, suggesting drug use is rampant in the nation's prisons. "Why should we have prisoners testing positive at the same rate as the general public?" he said. McCaffrey's presence prompted the protest by members of the Ventura County Alliance for Marijuana Patients. Told of the general's comments about medical marijuana, spokeswoman Andrea Nagy noted that research has shown the validity of the treatment. Also at the conference on Friday, a recovering addict of prescription drugs told of how she would misrepresent herself to doctors and manipulate them into unintentionally feeding her habit. Not only did they not pick up on any symptoms of addiction, they never asked her about any drug problems. Dr. Reed Tuckson, vice president of professional standards with the American Medical Association, said primary care physicians need to be better educated. Somehow, the stigma of addiction has to be minimized so doctors and patients can communicate honestly. Former first lady Nancy Reagan sat in on the day's closing presentation, drawing a standing ovation and prompting organizers from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse to dedicate the conference to her. Much of the final day was spent on encouragement. Charts were shown detailing an almost 50 percent decrease in the monthly use of illegal drugs over a 13-year period. Other graphics suggested that anti-drug advertising is successful at changing the way teen-agers view drugs. "This so-called war is not only winnable, we are winning it," said Jim Burke, chairman of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Steven Schroeder, CEO of a philanthropic foundation dedicated to fighting substance abuse, also praised efforts but said future challenges include getting parental groups and other grass-roots organizations more involved. "The overriding challenge for all of us is to move this issue onto the public agenda," he said. "Why is it so hard to get people to care?" - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea