In her first public comments since firing the director of Baltimore County's Bureau of Substance Abuse, Dr. Michelle A. Leverett outlined plans yesterday to focus the bureau's efforts on treatment and prevention programs for youngsters who are most at risk for drug use.

Leverett, the county health officer, did not specifically mention former Director Michael M. Gimbel, but she implied that his high-profile tenure did little to reduce the problem of drug abuse in the county in recent years.

She said that the county's approach to reducing substance abuse "has to involve more than publicity" and that she is looking for "a well-qualified team player" to head the department.

"Substance abuse continues to be a serious problem in Baltimore County, despite more than 20 years of high-profile media attention," Leverett wrote in a prepared statement. "There are more than 30,000 addicts in need of treatment, a number that has not changed for several years. ... It's clear that we need to look at new ways to combat this."

Gimbel, who headed the bureau for nearly 23 years, was fired Dec. 11. He claimed the dismissal was political, and scores of county residents have signed petitions or called politicians seeking his reinstatement.

"That is the most offensive press release I have ever seen," Gimbel said after reading Leverett's statement. "This statement basically offends thousands of people in Baltimore County who have been working so hard for so many years to fight drugs. To have the health officer make a statement that we've made no difference for years is a total offense to the schools, to the police, to the parents."

Leverett said everything in her statement is a matter of fact.

"Nothing was said in the press release to disparage or downgrade activities that have been undertaken by the schools, the police or the parents or most importantly, the staff of the Bureau of Substance Abuse," she said. "The bottom line is that I can't ignore as a director of the department what we need to do."

Leverett said the new bureau chief will be asked to intensify efforts to reach children of adults in the treatment system and those with high exposure to the drug trade.

The department will also attempt to work more closely with law enforcement, hospital emergency rooms and community substance abuse councils. In addition, Leverett said she plans to expand access to treatment.

County Executive James T. Smith Jr. made combating substance abuse a major campaign theme, but he has denied having any role in Gimbel's firing.

Leverett has not commented directly on the dismissal.

Gimbel said that the ideas Leverett outlined in her statement were part of his tenure. He also said Leverett never expressed dissatisfaction with the job he did.

"She's been in charge of substance abuse in Baltimore County for seven years. If she thinks we are such a failure, then she is a failure and has to take responsibility herself," Gimbel said. "Maybe the county executive needs to examine the fact that she's failed."

Leverett said she does take responsibility for the failures of the department. That's why she decided to get a new leader for the bureau.