Pubdate: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 Source: Philadelphia Daily News (PA) Copyright: 2001 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.phillynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/339 NEW DRUG CZAR NOW BELIEVES IN TREATMENT WASHINGTON - John Walters, President Bush's nominee to become the next White House drug policy director, said yesterday he supports federal funding for drug-abuse treatment and prevention, reversing his past view on the issue. Asked by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., if his opinion had changed since 1996, when he wrote that federal funding was neither "necessary nor sufficient" for teaching children that drug abuse is wrong, Walters replied: "Yeah, I have changed my view on that." Walters, was testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Noting that Bush favors increased federal funding for such programs, he said, "It is the president's policy and I wouldn't have taken this job if I disagreed with him on that." Bush named Walters as director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in May. Walters has drawn heavy criticism from drug-treatment advocates, civil libertarians and public health officials, who accused him of promoting a "hard-line" policy of focusing on incarcerating drug addicts rather than treating them. Walters was a former deputy to the nation's first so-called "drug czar," William Bennett. Republicans on the committee lauded Walters. "John Walters is the right man for this difficult job," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, added that during Walters' tenure in the drug policy office from 1989 to 1993, prevention spending increased by 88 percent. If confirmed, Walters would succeed Barry McCaffrey, who left the post in January. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth