By Mike Kahn
CBS SportsLine Executive Editor
July 24, 1998

When Bill Clinton began his second term as president of the United States, one of his priorities shifted to ills of drugs, and athletics had everything to do with it. Federal government reports showed a 156-percent increase in drug usage among eighth-graders from 1991-96.

Startling

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as the figures were, each day 6,488 kids try marijuana for the first time, 1,786 ingest some form of cocaine, and 386 put heroin into their bodies.

So Clinton needed somebody to focus on the problem, and he came up with retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command (Latin America). Obviously, he knew a lot about where drugs were coming from and the ramifications. On Feb. 29, 1996, McCaffrey became the newest member of Clinton's Cabinet, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Meet the new "Drug Czar."

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, McCAFFREY SET out to find positive role models to change the horrid direction the nation's youth had taken toward drug-usage. Soon, he had worked out deals that included public-service work with Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. They are working closely with the NBA with hopes of closing the "marijuana loophole" in collective bargaining that has left open a continuous surge of pot-smoking among NBA players, estimated at anywhere from 50-70 percent.

Upon conclusion of CBS SportsLine's five-part series on drugs in sports, McCaffrey was more than willing to answer questions regarding the impact athletes have on the rest of our country and their responsibility as role models.

He agreed, athletes have a significant impact on society in everything they do. Because athletes are constantly in the public eye, there is little doubt their actions are magnified.

"Top athletes are looked up to by our nation's young people," McCaffrey told CBS SportsLine. "Go to any stadium across the nation tonight and look at the thousands of young people hanging on their seats, wearing the jerseys of their favorite players and cheering every good play. When one of these athletes turns up using drugs, young people get the message that drugs don't stop you from living your dreams, that drugs are cool. On the other hand, every time an athlete stands with us -- through our Athletic Initiative -- against drugs, they help us reach thousands of young people with the right understanding about drugs: Users are losers. Be a winner."

There is some consideration that the money and fame which can lure young athletes into leaving college early (or not going at all) might have an impact on drug and alcohol abuse. But McCaffrey says there is no evidence of that ... yet.

"We have no statistical evidence that shows a link between athletes opting early into the pro ranks and drug use," McCaffrey said. "However, it is important to understand the tremendous pressures placed on these young people and the inadequate support and supervision many of them receive. Younger and younger players are jumping into the pro ranks, where for many of the leagues the drug education and oversight is far less than they would have experienced in a college setting. They have huge salaries and far too often no one around to help them make career decisions, like, 'Do I try drugs?' Without proper support, too many give in to temptations and peer pressures. We need to build support structures in the pro ranks that help the players, young and old, understand the risks. Athletes must weigh the consequences of drug use:

• " 'If I use drugs, I could miss a key pass or shot and get cut.'

• " 'If I use drugs, I can get injured far more easily and lose my career.'

• " 'If I use drugs and get caught, I could get suspended, fined, kicked out of the league. I'll embarrass myself and everyone around me.'

• " 'If I use drugs, I am likely to hurt myself, my family and my team.'"

WITH ALL THE DISCUSSION SURROUNDING drug abuse, especially marijuana in the NBA, an ignored problem still appears to be alcohol abuse. With adults, there is little that can be done. However, abuse at the high school and college levels continues to grow.

Barry McCaffrey says pro athletes can play an important role in the war on drugs. (AP)

McCaffrey claims that is not being ignored. A new focus group is intact to attack that very problem. One need look no further than last year's Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings to realize the dangers. And college athletics are not being ignored, either.

"The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new initiative, focusing on college and high school students, to help educate young people about the dangers of alcohol," McCaffrey said. " The NCAA is also working hard to get that message out to athletes and students in general. Alcohol is legal; however, it is one of our most dangerous drugs. The risks are real. Look at what happened to Vladimir Konstantinov of the Red Wings -- at the peak of his career, celebrating a Stanley Cup, and an alcohol-related accident leaves him paralyzed. We need to make sure the risks are understood."

With the growth of drug habits among young people, the existing D.A.R.E. program of the past decade has come under fire. It begs the questioning of what drug education does ... or has it been handled in the wrong manner? McCaffrey says that isn't the problem. Education can only go so far, and the more stringent policing of drug dealing and using has to be implemented.

There is little doubt McCaffrey is of the mindset that professional sports should have a zero tolerance for drug abuse. The misnomer of "banned from the league" has been followed too often with reinstatement, as was the case a half-dozen times in baseball for Steve Howe. Look at the way Roy Tarpley and Chris Washburn were superstar talents who destroyed their careers in the NBA -- not to mention Len Bias dying before he ever played a game -- and there is no doubt the real answer is to stop the drug problems before they ever get started.

"Prevention is goal No. 1 of our National Drug Control Strategy," McCaffrey said. "Education is like inoculating young people against drug use. Athletes and coaches and other people children look up to have to talk honestly and openly to our young people about the dangers of drugs. However, this isn't an either/or situation. We also need law enforcement and criminal justice to deter drug use and protect our streets and young people. It's the same for the leagues. The leagues need to focus on prevention. However, there has to be enforcement of the rules and consequences when you find drug use."

CONSEQUENTLY, THE GOALS OF McCAFFREY, the federal government and leaders in all walks of life are wise enough to keep things in perspective. This problem will not be wiped out today, tomorrow, next month or next year.

The questions and answers must begin at home, then be carried on through actions and words from parents. Then, it must translate the same way in our schools and from other coaches and teachers. Finally, the leaders of society must function in a manner that is positive in public. Nobody is naïve enough to try to understand or control what people do behind closed doors. Even after they've ingested drugs or alcohol, they should remain in private company.

This is all a matter of behavioral control by adults in our society. Ultimately, McCaffrey hopes the manner in which we live will have a more positive impact on the next generation of adults.

"Our goal is to reduce drug use in the United States by half in the next 10 years," McCaffrey said. "For us to achieve this goal, every American needs to play a role. Stars like Dante Washington of Major League Soccer and Greg Zaun of the Florida Marlins need to keep standing up and letting kids know that it is cool not to do drugs. Coaches need to watch out for the warning signs of drug use among their players and students, and where they see these signs, find these young people help. Parents have the primary mentoring and educational role to play."

The rest of the role models, who became wealthy because of their public persona (whether they like it or not), are responsible to follow suit.