[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 17 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       EDITORIAL TELLS US WHO IS LOSING THE WAR ON ILLEGAL DRUGS

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                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February, 24, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, the National Institute of Drug Abuse 
reveals that more American teenagers are using a variety of drugs than 
they did just 2 years ago.
  The report also indicates that this bothersome trend reverses the 
trend of the 1980's toward decreased drug use.
  So what does that tell us? It tells us that we were winning the drug 
war in the 1980's, but are now starting to lose it.
  Is anyone really surprised, Mr. Speaker, that the first President to 
represent the 1960's counterculture should decline to continue the war 
against drugs? President Clinton has all but abolished the National 
Drug Control Policy Office in his first year in office. He has 
appointed a Surgeon General who thinks drugs should be legalized.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are losing the war on drugs, because the 
fortress is now being guarded by our enemies in this war.
  I place in today's Record an editorial from the largest daily 
newspaper in our district, the Albany Times-Union, which laments, as do 
I and every American, the ground we have lost in a war we must win if 
our children and grandchildren are to have a viable future.

           [From the Albany (NY) Times Union, Feb. 12, 1994]

                           A Drug War Setback

       The issue: A new survey shows drug use is up among 
     teenagers.
       Our opinion: The Clinton administration can't afford to 
     send mixed messages on this scourge.
       The national effort against illegal drug use has been dealt 
     a setback.
       An extensive survey just conducted for the National 
     Institute on Drug Abuse reveals more American teenagers are 
     using a variety of illicit drugs than they did just two years 
     ago.
       The percentage increases are small--1 or 2 or 3 percent 
     depending on the drug--but they are alarming. That's because 
     this increase marks a departure from the trend of generally 
     decreased use that began in the late '70s and early '80s. It 
     is also worrying, however, because the same survey found that 
     fewer teenagers disapprove of drug use today than just a 
     short time ago.
       What does this all mean?
       Most surely that the ``war'' against illegal drug use will 
     never be completely ``won.'' The drug abuse problem, like the 
     alcohol abuse problem which began earlier, will always be 
     with us.
       That means, in turn, that society's efforts to control drug 
     abuse must also not flag.
       Unfortunately, the campaign has already been relaxed. We no 
     longer see as many antidrug messages in the mass media, for 
     example, as we did a few years ago, and there even might have 
     been ``messages'' sent out of Washington that drug abuse is 
     not such a great problem. Some critics, at any rate, have 
     interpreted President Clinton's decreased staffing of the 
     National Drug Control Policy Office in that light; just as 
     others viewed the surgeon general's suggestion that drugs be 
     legalized as a backing down in the drug fight.
       However that might be, it is patently clear that we cannot 
     let down our guard. The message must continue to be drummed: 
     These drugs are illegal and they are dangerous. This truth, 
     no matter how great the effort of dissemination, will never 
     get through to everyone. But recent experience seems to show 
     that any easing up in the campaign will mean ground lost.

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