Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 Source: Blade, The (OH) Copyright: 2001 The Blade Contact: 541 North Superior St., Toledo OH 43660 Website: http://www.toledoblade.com/ DRUG POLICY: CHANCE FOR A NEW DIRECTION President-elect George W. Bush has an opportunity to reconcile the nation and set a new course for the next century. Whether he will take the helm and alter this nation's drug policy toward a more effective, humane, and intelligent path remains to be seen. Among the appointed offices will be the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Mr. Bush should consider appointing someone with a doctorate in medicine rather than a sound military record to head that office. Drug addiction is a problem best dealt with by physicians, not police or militarized anti-narcotics forces. Our military was meant to fight wars - not drug addiction. The best the last head of the ONDCP, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey could do was a $1.3 billion plan to "eradicate" coca crops and train military personal in a country where figuring out who the bad guys are and who the good guys are is extremely difficult if not impossible. An illegal media campaign sought to influence the content of popular television shows, as well as newspaper and magazine content. Mr. McCaffrey could talk the talk, but the division and disbursement of the $17 billion budget was two-thirds law enforcement and one-third for treatment, education, and harm reduction programs. It's time for a director who can walk the walk when it comes to addressing this country's drug problem. Not just someone willing to tow the party line and regurgitate the same old rhetoric, but someone with a background in medicine, social services, and education. Because what this country needs is a lot less politicking, and a lot more critical thinking and assessment, if we're to get anywhere on reducing drug abuse and addiction. JIM WHITE Oregon - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart