Pubdate: Thu, 21 May 2009
Source: USA Today (US)
Page: 3A
Copyright: 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact:  http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Kerlikowske
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?258 (Holder, Eric)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

NEW DRUG CZAR READY TO CORRAL FORCES

Putting Focus on Abuse of Prescriptions

NASHVILLE -- Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske says one of his top priorities 
is curtailing abuse of prescription drugs -- such as the addictive 
painkiller OxyContin -- which are readily available in the U.S.

"We get overly concerned about drugs coming in, but the 
pharmaceuticals are here already," he said in an interview Wednesday 
with USA TODAY.

He says he'll push for more states to adopt prescription-monitoring 
programs, databases in which doctors and pharmacists log 
prescriptions for addictive drugs so law enforcement can track them.

Kerlikowske, who became director of the White House Office of 
National Drug Control Policy on May 7, described drug abuse as a 
"public health problem." Yet the former Seattle police chief added, 
"That doesn't mean law enforcement doesn't have a role to play."

He said he was stunned to learn recently that more people in the U.S. 
die from drugs than from gunshot wounds.

"We're going to shout that from the rooftops," he said. "We have a 
national effort to combat swine flu. In the same way, we can bring 
all forces to bear on the drug problem."

Kerlikowske said he supports courts that offer treatment instead of 
prison for addicts and federal funding for needle-exchange programs 
to stop the spread of disease.

His approach departs from that of the Bush administration, which 
heavily funded law enforcement task forces and advocated for tough 
sentences for drug offenders.

The Obama administration wants to make sentences for crimes involving 
crack cocaine the same as those for crimes involving powder cocaine. 
Currently, crack-related sentences are longer.

Attorney General Eric Holder also has limited prosecutions of sick 
people or caregivers who use or dispense marijuana for medical 
reasons. He has said his agents will seek criminal charges only when 
both state and U.S. laws are violated. During the Bush 
administration, agents raided several centers that dispense marijuana 
in California, where state law permits its medical use.

On his first trip outside Washington since assuming his new role, 
Kerlikowske told a law enforcement crowd attending a drug initiative 
conference Wednesday that marijuana should stay illegal, but public 
health officials -- not police -- should lead efforts to reduce 
illegal drug use.

"Legalization isn't in the president's vocabulary, and it certainly 
isn't in mine," he told 300 federal agents and law enforcement officials.

He sought to show strong support for law enforcement, making his 
first stop a 6:30 a.m. roll call at a Nashville Police Department precinct.

After speaking at the conference, Kerlikowske visited a drug court 
with a residential-treatment center. He also toured a residence for 
women with addictions who were recently released from prison.

"The state of Tennessee has built all the prison cells it needs" but 
has not invested enough in treating drug abusers, Criminal Court 
Judge Seth Norman, who runs the Davidson County Drug Court, told Kerlikowske.

The new drug czar agreed: "Rotating people in and out and through the 
system doesn't make a lot of sense." 
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