cannabisnews.com: McCaffrey Helps SODA Celebrate 20th Anniversary





McCaffrey Helps SODA Celebrate 20th Anniversary
Posted by FoM on October 24, 2000 at 21:32:33 PT
By Myles Murphy, Ashland Daily Tidings
Source: Ashland Daily Tidings
 National Drug Policy Director Barry R. McCaffrey was greeted by cheers and foot-stamping by nearly 4,000 Jackson County students this morning at the Jackson County Expo. McCaffrey was introduced by Stephanie Soares Pump, executive director of Southern Oregon Drug Awareness, or SODA, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. "I'm sure many of you have heard the affectionate term, `drug czar,'" said Soares Pump. "This is him."
McCaffrey praised the work of SODA and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. He also said that the stereotype of bigger cities having greater drug problems was not valid.The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy lists methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana as substantial problems in this region. "Southern Oregon is probably as bad as anywhere in the world," he said.He also went into an explanation of the focus of his work at the national level."There are 5 million Americans chronically addicted and in abject misery," he said. "We want to get them help. That's one of my jobs."McCaffrey said he has spoken with many addicts and recovering addicts about their problems and has asked them what they think he should focus his energy as drug czar on. Most say that early intervention when they were teens would have been the best thing, he said."A lot of them are crying when they tell me," McCaffrey said. "The most dangerous thing is a 12-year-old boy or girl regularly smoking pot and binge drinking on the weekends."These early beginnings are what set up the larger problems of heroin, meth or other drug use later in life, he said."We believe that beyond the age of 19, nobody is stupid enough to use drugs like heroin," he said. "At the end of the day the only important thing we're doing is talking to young people."He said he was less worried about young kids starting out with heroin or methamphetamines than drugs that are perceived to be less dangerous, such as marijuana, alcohol or ecstasy. He said that ecstasy causes permanent brain damage and even death."We've got dozens of kids dropping dead up and down the Eastern seaboard (from ecstasy)," he said.McCaffrey asked for a show of hands from the students who have friends who use drugs, or have seen drugs or weapons in school. Most of the hands in the room went up. He then asked how many of the students had told one of their friends that they worried about their behavior; less than half indicated that they had."The challenge is for you to try and take care of each other," he said.Students from Medford, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, Eagle Point, Prospect and Rogue River attended the event."It's good for the kids to see so many other kids interested in this," said Beth Smith, an alternative education teacher from Rogue River.McCaffrey, a retired general who served three tours of duty in Vietnam, recently announced that he will be stepping down as national drug policy director in January.At a news conference following the event, McCaffrey said he will continue to push for increased drug testing for Olympic and professional athletes at the national and international level."A lot more has to be done," he said. "Olympic athletes need to be able to win gold medals through just their God-given talent, good training and good coaching."He noted that two American athletes were awarded gold medals after the Olympics when the original winners in their events were disqualified after testing positive for drugs."That's a tremendous shot in the arm for us," he said.Source: Ashland Daily TidingsAuthor: Myles Murphy Pubdate: Tuesday October 24, 2000Address: 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Copyright: Lee Northwest Publishing Contact: letters dailytidings.com Website: http://www.dailytidings.com Related Articles:McCaffrey: Pot is a Burning Issuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7426.shtmlThe General's Farewellhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7377.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by AOCP on October 25, 2000 at 15:40:59 PT:
Diatribe
>Most say that early intervention when they were teens would have been the best thing, he said.What does *that* mean? Nice blank check for the drug hawks to fill in with whatever THEY prescribe. Typical ONDCP-media drivel.>"A lot of them are crying when they tell me," McCaffrey said. "The most dangerous thing is a 12-year-old boy or girl regularly smoking pot and binge drinking on the weekends."Oh, yea? I don't see this moron calling for alcohol prohibition! Where's the passion for the kids who are actually DYING from your taxed, fat cash-cow that is not only freaking legal, but glorified on television?!? You, sir, bring new meaning to the words hypocrite and fraud. Go be a failure somewhere else, puh-leeze!>These early beginnings are what set up the larger problems of heroin, meth or other drug use later in life, he said.What does that really mean? Hmmmm ... *silly robot voice on* "Prohibition is the way ... do not resist ... you will be assimilated ... oh, merde! ... booze is too powerful ... tobacco biting our heels ... must keep pumping public full of MJ hysteria to keep them sedated from the truuuuuuuthhh ... *click* *silly robot voice off*>"We believe that beyond the age of 19, nobody is stupid enough to use drugs like heroin," he said. "At the end of the day the only important thing we're doing is talking to young people."Man, i'd just LOVE to see how they cooked up that cop-out while giving such a pathetic attempt to cover it as something meaningful. What, that stuff about "intervention" when they're young? The bog is overflowing! Hahahahah!>He said he was less worried about young kids starting out with heroin or methamphetamines than drugs that are perceived to be less dangerous, such as marijuana, alcohol or ecstasy. And ole gramps McCzar rings yet another symbolic, yet conviently avoided death toll for legal alcohol and tobacco. How does he miss this stuff?! It's great!>He said that ecstasy causes permanent brain damage and even death.Well, that about covers it. With facts like that and ravers upon ravers up ravers just flipping the stuff like crazy, what kind of "intervention" are we talking about here? I am seriously getting concerned!>"We've got dozens of kids dropping dead up and down the Eastern seaboard (from ecstasy)," he said.The Boogie Man cometh. *boo!* WHAT is it gonna take, McCzar? You're pullin' a golota and gettin' out before the big one hits, aren't ya? Or are you just lateraling the football, so the next guy gets the big touchdown? Methinks it be the former.>"The challenge is for you to try and take care of each other," he said.And my t-shirt reads (and i quote): D.A.R.E. : I turned in my parents and all i got was this lousy t-shirt. I sense a snake in the grass!>"It's good for the kids to see so many other kids interested in this," said Beth Smith, an alternative education teacher from Rogue River.What's up with the spooky, vague references? I know of at least one "alternative" way to teach that differs from my preferred one; lie to your students. I am constantly amazed.>McCaffrey, a retired general who served three tours of duty in Vietnam, recently announced that he will be stepping down as national drug policy director in January.And i hate to see such a funny clown go, too! Maybe we can laugh at all his crazy hyjinx at the federal legalization 10-year anniversary! *wiping a tear from my eye* Be there or be subjucated and lied to! (aka-square)>At a news conference following the event, McCaffrey said he will continue to push for increased drug testing for Olympic and professional athletes at the national and international level.Walk quietly and carry a big ole jar.>"A lot more has to be done," he said. "Olympic athletes need to be able to win gold medals through just their God-given talent, good training and good coaching."Moralizing windbag. Trust me, your deity isn't gonna be too happy with you come your judgement. You can take those odds to the bank.>He noted that two American athletes were awarded gold medals after the Olympics when the original winners in their events were disqualified after testing positive for drugs.Ooooo, nice low-blow to anything non-US, barry! "If you're a real american, you're pure in the barry-way! Just say no!">"That's a tremendous shot in the arm for us," he said.Whoa! Didja all catch that wittiness?! The guy's on fire, folks! Just not the amusing kind ... rather, he's going down in flames. Too bad there's no parachute ... jumping out of planes is a dangerous activity and the feds can't let consenting adults make that sort of choice! What would the children think?!?
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Comment #1 posted by Dan Hillman on October 25, 2000 at 14:50:47 PT
Reviewing the troops.
How appropriate that the general struts on a stage in front of a crowd of teenage high-school students. After all, these are the future soldiers who will be asked to fight in the Colombian quagmire that McHalfFree has cooked up for us.
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