Drug Czar

Drug Czar is an informal name for the person who directs drug-control policies in the United States. The 'czar' title was first used to refer to an appointed government official in a Time Magazine article in December 1973, referring to William E. Simon's appointment as the head of the Federal Energy Administration. The 'drug czar' title was first published in a 1982 news story quoting Joe Biden by United Press International which reported that “Senators... voted 62-34 to establish a ‘drug czar’ who would have overall responsibility for U.S. drug policy.” Since then, several ad hoc executive positions in both the United States and United Kingdom have been established which have been subsequently referred to in this manner.
On May 14, 2009, President Obama's new Drug Czar: Gil Kerlikowske, called for end to the 'War on Drugs'.
In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy with the Washington Post, Gil Kerlikowske said the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation's drug issues.
"Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them," he said. "We're not at war with people in this country."
United States
Nixon and Ford administrations
* Jerome Jaffe, head of the Special Office for Drug Abuse Prevention
* Myles Ambrose, head of the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE)
* Dr. Robert Dupont, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and head of the Narcotics Treatment Administration
Carter administration
* Peter Bourne, Director of the National Drug Control Policy
* Mathea Falco, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics
Reagan administration
* Carlton Turner PhD, ScD, Director of the Drug Abuse Policy Office
* D. Ian McDonald, MD. Deputy Assistant to the President, Drug Abuse Policy Office
Since 1988
* The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
United Kingdom
In the UK, Keith Hellawell, former Drugs Advisor to the Labour government of Tony Blair, has been referred to as Drug Czar.

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