Office Of National Drug Control Policy U S

The White House drug czar said in a warning to parents Friday that depressed teens are medicating themselves with marijuana, running risks of even deeper depression. A new report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy said that frequent marijuana ingestion doubles a teen's risk of depression and anxiety, based on data compiled from published studies.

As President Bush fought to keep Congress in Republican hands last year, the White House political director enlisted the nation's drug czar to attend events with vulnerable GOP incumbents, documents made public on Tuesday disclosed. John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, attended 20 programs -- round-table discussions, tours, a town hall meeting and other antidrug events -- with Republican candidates from New Jersey to California.

The nation's drug czar toured a drug-ridden Atlanta neighborhood Monday night, catching a glimpse of street corners where nearly any illegal drug is for sale. John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, rode along with police through the Vine City and Washington Park areas, one of the busiest markets for heroin and crack in the South. A group of about a dozen people quickly moved off a side street when unmarked cars approached.

The White House on Thursday announced a campaign to shift more of the nation's drug-fighting efforts to its 25 largest cities. The plan follows a report this month that showed federal resources once committed to the nation's war on drugs have been diverted to the war on terrorism.

The nation's drug czar began calling on local religious leaders Saturday to help in the war on drugs. John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy, announced last week his national drive to enlist faith-based youth groups in anti-drug programs. The drive is the Bush administration's latest effort to expand the role of religious organizations in government services.

Tom Umberg, who has been working for the nation's drug czar, Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, in Washington since last summer, was confirmed late Thursday by the U.S. Senate as deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Umberg, a former assemblyman from Orange County and candidate for state attorney general, is in charge of drug interdiction efforts worldwide. "I am honored to have the opportunity to help keep America's kids off drugs," Umberg, 42, said.

The White House anti-drug office has come under attack from a Republican senator and anti-smoking groups for awarding a multimillion-dollar advertising contract to a company that handles publicity for a major tobacco company. Bates USA works for one of tobacco company Brown and Williamson's leading cigarette brands--Lucky Strike--and, according to industry sources, has just won accounts worth $50 million to advertise the company's Kool and Capri brands.

Former Assemblyman Tom Umberg will be sworn in as deputy to drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey in a White House ceremony today. Umberg, 42, will be the deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in charge of supply issues, dealing with law enforcement and foreign policy aspects of the nation's drug policy. He will earn $125,000 a year and will be the only Orange County resident serving in the Clinton administration.

National drug czar Barry McCaffrey offered an olive branch Thursday to Hollywood, saying he would like to make the industry a stronger player in the nation's war on illicit drugs. Although he said films and television send mixed messages, he avoided attacks on specific movies, programs or the people who produce them. The retired Army general spent an hour with about 30 network and studio executives, producers and actors at a meeting sponsored by the Entertainment Industries Council.

When President Clinton introduced the Army's most decorated senior officer as his new drug czar during last month's State of the Union address, his choice of Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey seemed a masterstroke to blunt rising Republican criticism of his antinarcotics efforts. "They needed somebody who really would be symbolic of a big fight on this problem, and even though he'll be retired, somebody whose first name is 'General' is a great way to do it," a Clinton administration drug official said.