For Immediate Release
March 10, 1998
Contact: Melissa Forsythe or Mark Pfeiffer
(502) 564-2611
Larry Carrico, Champions for a Drug-Free Kentucky
(502) 564-7889

Governor Patton and Drug Czar Promote Battle Against Drug Abuse

Frankfort, Ky. - Governor Paul Patton was joined by White House Drug Czar Barry McCaffery in a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda today to focus attention on the growing problem of drug abuse. "It’s a problem that’s hurting our children, shattering our families and costing this country over $238-billion annually in lost productivity, hospitalizations and crime", Governor Patton said.

"Kentucky’s response to the drug problem," the governor said, "has been to establish a collaborative, comprehensive partnership to address the needs of Kentucky’s citizens." Specifically, the governor mentioned a bill now in the legislature to combat the problem of prescription drug abuse initiated by his administration and the Attorney General. The governor also pointed out, through his office, the Champions for a Drug-Free Kentucky is funding community based anti-drug programs all over the state with a $9-million dollar Federal Grant. Kentucky was one of only five states to receive the grant.

"It’s in local communities that real impact is achieved in terms of reducing drug abuse", Patton said.

General Barry McCaffery, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, outlined President Clinton’s National Drug Control Strategy for 1998. The five goals of the strategy are to educate youth to reject drugs, reduce drug-related crime and violence, reduce the health and social costs of illegal drug use, shield America’s borders from the drug threat, and break foreign and domestic drug suppliers.

General McCaffery said, "The central core element of this strategy suggests that if you want to drive down the number of 13-million Americans who are currently abusing drugs…you’ve got to reach the kids and get them through the age of 19 without them becoming involved in drugs. If we can do that, the drug problem will get smaller."

A preview showing of a PBS series by Bill Moyers on addiction called "Close to Home" followed the news conference. The series will be broadcast on KET, March 28, 29, and 30^th.

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