cannabisnews.com: DEA's Anti-Drug Program Succeeds DEA's Anti-Drug Program Succeeds Posted by FoM on July 29, 2001 at 09:01:11 PT By Jerry Seper, Washington Times Source: Washington Times One of the Drug Enforcement Administration's least known programs — a demand-reduction plan begun nearly 15 years ago — continues to be one of the agency's most successful in its continuing fight against illicit narcotics. The program, created in 1986, responded to the widespread belief that both law enforcement and drug prevention were necessary components in any comprehensive attack against this country's continuing drug problem. Its goals are to provide timely, accurate and persuasive information to various audiences to build support for effective drug enforcement; to educate the public about the dangers of drugs and the effects of drug abuse on the nation; and to reach community leaders, parents, teachers, counselors and employees to educate them on drug prevention and education programs. "Dealing with criminals as we do all the time, this program offers us a chance to reach out to that segment of the population we don't normally see," said Catherine Shaw, the DEA's chief of congressional and public affairs, who oversees the demand-reduction program. "It gives entry to the positive aspects of what we do, showing that we are also committed to prevention." Ms. Shaw described the program's $1 million budget as "modest" but said it "pays a lot of dividends," giving DEA agents across the country the opportunity to work with community coalitions, businesses, parents, churches "and the kids." Ms. Shaw said that in each of the DEA's 22 field divisions, a special agent is designated as the "demand reduction coordinator," whose role is to provide leadership and support to local agencies and organizations as they develop drug prevention and education programs. She said the coordinators specifically tailor their programs to the localities where they are assigned, adding that the needs of each community differ, based largely on its drug problems and its population. "Our people have expertise in a lot of different areas, and that is a strength of the program," she said, adding that developing positive role models for children in the communities is a major goal. As DEA agents, she said, the coordinators bring a "unique perspective to the drug prevention arena" because they have a clear understanding of the overall drug situation and a broad range of experience in working with other law enforcement agencies, community leaders, educators and employers. This expertise, Ms. Shaw said, makes the agency's demand reduction program stand out from other federal programs that address substance abuse. In the fiscal year 2000, the DEA program focused on four main objectives: raising public awareness, providing support for parents, educating school-age children and establishing drug-free work environments. Ms. Shaw said the program is committed to establishing public awareness education for opinion and community leaders and making those leaders aware of the current drug threat and the links between drugs, crime and violence. She noted that DEA Administrator-designate Asa Hutchinson, who is awaiting confirmation by the full Senate, has said he believes in the demand reduction program. "The credibility that the DEA agent is able to bring to the program and the community is tremendous," she said. "It's not like a cause of the moment for us, since we are a single-mission agency. The agents have arrested traffickers and seen the devastation drugs can cause, bringing first-hand law enforcement experience to communities who don't know what DEA does." "Putting a human face on DEA is always a positive thing, and the program is very inspiring to us; reminding us why we do this," she said. Ms. Shaw said making sure that "good kids stay drug-free" is a major goal, with much of the program's focus aimed at educating parents about the dangers of illegal drugs, heightening their awareness about emerging drug trends and equipping them to teach children life skills and resistance education. She said coordinators in nearly every division provide parent training for local communities, often through local Boys and Girls Clubs, schools and faith-based organizations. The demand reduction program reaches millions of children and school administrators, principals, teachers and coaches with specific drug education programs and materials. The program supplies schools and other youth-based organizations with drug prevention videos and publications and provides accurate resources to school administrators to help them formulate effective anti-drug programs, she said.Source: Washington Times (DC)Author: Jerry Seper, Washington TimesPublished: July 29, 2001Copyright: 2001 News World Communications, Inc.Website: http://www.washtimes.com/Contact: letters washingtontimes.comRelated Articles:The Good, The Bad and The War on Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10441.shtmlAsa Goes On Offense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10388.shtmlCannabisNews DEA Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/DEA.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on July 30, 2001 at 04:49:48 PT: Interesting: this great program has NO NAME Friends, I'm sure some of you noticed that. They speak glowingly of this program...but neglect to name it. They wax lyrical about it's successes - but fail to mention a single instance where it can be said to have worked as designed.One might almost think that we have been transported back to the bad ol' days of William Randolph Hearst's yellow journalism. You know, the kind that promulgated Reefer Madness: "Marijuana-crazed S***s rape White women!" "Cocaine-crazed N*****rs rape White women!" "Opium-crazed G**ks rape White women!"...and other sundry calumnies made against American citizens. In this article, there's lots of refernces to happy-happy, smile-smile successes...but not a single one specified. Not...a...one.Like an article predicated upon 'un-named sources', this reeks of 'snowjob'. I'd suggest that Mr. Seper withdraw his proboscis from the anus of Ms. Shaw as soon as possible; if she makes any sharp turns, he is liable to lose it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by SWAMPIE on July 29, 2001 at 19:47:12 PT: DEA SUXCESS????? This article is definitely horsecrap!Shaw even said that they are spreading the stuff by saying that"The program is comitted to establishing public awareness education for OPINION and community leaders and making those leaders aware of the current drug threat and the links between drugs and violence"Whose opinion?Not Mine!!!!Not most others to whom I've talked to either!! !!!Another one who wants her 15 minutes of fame to show to her grandkids after they go out back and smoke a joint without her knowledge!!!!!They'll just laugh behind her back!!!What an idiot!To go back to what DDDD said,I have a '69 Gibson Kalamazoo to shove up their collective asses when we prove them wrong!I'll be gentle!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SWAMPIE P.S.DDDD,LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE,I'VE BEEN A PLAYER SINCE I WAS 8 YRS. OLD.IT'S NICE TO KNOW ANOTHER GUITAR PLAYER! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dddd on July 29, 2001 at 14:18:02 PT ....bummer... I dont have a basement.....but the offer stands...If Jerry wantsto contact me,,and talk,,,the least I'll do is get a crewcut........If he actually convinces me that he's on the level,,I'llsee if he'll settle for cash...my Stratocaster is a sacred item.....the only thing I value more highly,,is Lil' Bill,my dog,,who isa purebred Royal Hamptonshire Muskington Terrier.,,,,,,thelast of his breed....He was smuggled out of a dog ranch in Scotlandsome ten years ago...."Rare",puts it mildly......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by lookinside on July 29, 2001 at 13:40:51 PT: dddd, put the 60s stratocaster in the basement... if mr seper can write this rah rah piece with a STRAIGHTFACE, he'll lie about his motives too...i'd retract theoffer...he'd have you arrested after he left with all yeraxes... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on July 29, 2001 at 12:51:24 PT credibility? "The credibility that the DEA agent is able to bring to the program and the community is tremendous."Is this the same DEA that knowingly let a snitch lie under oath 16 times? What credibility? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Lindy on July 29, 2001 at 12:07:02 PT: CATHERINE SHAW FOR PRESIDENT!!! .....or at least DEA Administrator! Look at all this woman has done with just "$1 million" dollars!! Amazing! Just think of the possibilities! Tens of BILLIONS wasted on the other side of this "War on Drugs" could be diverted to causes and programs this country really needs! Here she is folks, the answer to all our nations problems right under our very noses! RAH! RAH! RAH! FOR CATHERINE SHAW!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by dddd on July 29, 2001 at 11:26:54 PT owned ..you're right about the Times Doug,,,,,it's almost as if itis completely owned and operated as a government Pravdatype thing,,,,,a sort of a devious National Enquirer type ofpublication,,which is edited by those of questionable integrity,and influence...dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Doug on July 29, 2001 at 10:45:26 PT Home for Propaganda As dddd says this is propaganda, pure and simple. Notice that it was run in the Washington Times, a newspaper that makes Murdoch look like a liberal. The Times is a good haven for lies that are even too raw for the Washington Post to publish. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dddd on July 29, 2001 at 10:11:38 PT Another piece of fake,government sponsored CRAP! ....Here we have the spinmasters in the office of sheepleendoctrination,,,presenting us with yet more happy,upbeat,tall tales of their success.>"One of the Drug Enforcement Administration's least known programs — a demand-reduction plan begun nearly 15 years ago"..Yes,,of course,,it's one of their least known programs,andsomehow,,its success has been measured by some sort of otherlittle known way of measuring the "success" of such "programs"...If you cant smell the the still steaming turds here,then I suggestthat you have had your head in your butt for so long,that the smellof sh*t,no longer registers in your olfactory realm!>"Its goals are to provide timely, accurate and persuasive information to various audiences to build support for effective drug enforcement; to educate the public about the dangers of drugs and the effects of drug abuse on the nation; and to reach community leaders, parents, teachers, counselors and employees to educate them on drug prevention and education programs."..This is a precious gem of utter bullshit.It's not even pretendingto be from some real reporter of actual news,,It is taken directlyfrom the spigot of government sponsored propaganda....If Jerry Seperwants to come forth,and tell me he wrote this article solely dueto his own journalistic inquisitiveness,,then I will get a crewcut,and present him with my entire guitar collection...It's really sad to think that there are actually many people who readsuch articles,,and think that they are written by normal reporters/journalists.dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment