[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17061-S17062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have spoken several times on this 
floor, as have others, about disturbing trends in drug use in this 
country. Well, the latest bad news is out, having been delayed over 2 
months by the administration. The new Drug Abuse Warning Network [DAWN] 
numbers on hospital admissions for drug emergencies are in. And the 
story that they have to tell is disturbing.
  At least 500,000 Americans ended up in hospital emergency rooms in 
1994 in drug-related episodes. Cocaine-related incidents were up 15 
percent over 1993, and a stunning 40 percent over 1988. Cocaine-related 
episodes are the highest since DAWN surveys began. In part, this 
indicates the consequences for an aging addict population beginning to 
show the signs of prolonged addiction.
  But, with increases among teenagers in the use of hallucinogens, 
marijuana, uppers, and downers, we are faced with increasing problems 
in a new generation of users, and storing up problems for the future.
  Young people are simply not getting the message that drug use is both 
harmful and wrong. Since 1990, marijuana/hashish related episodes 
increased by 155 percent. They increased 40 percent between 1993 and 
1994 alone.
  When you combine these numbers with recent PRIDE, household survey, 
and high school survey figures on teenage use, the trend is 
unmistakable. And it is bad news. After years of decline, after years 
of young people foregoing drugs, we are seeing all the successes we had 
wiped out in a few short years as the message about the dangers of 
drugs has been lost.
  The mistake made by the present administration was to believe that 
they could abandon the bully pulpit on this issue, refocus programs to 
treatment, and not send a signal to the most at-risk population, our 
young people, that drug use was not so bad or dangerous. The mistake 
was in telling people not to inhale instead of saying ``no.''
  The mistake we seem determined to repeat, after our experiences of 
the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's, is that you should only have to do the 
counter-drug effort once, like a small pox vaccination. Having done 
this once, we can move on to more pressing issues.
  Such thinking is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the 
realities of drug use. The most at-risk population for starting use are 
our teenagers, beginning as early as 12 years old. Unless we declare a 
moratorium on having children in this country, we will see a new crop 
of teenagers coming into schools and into contact with a drug culture 
every year. And they are coming of age now in an environment in which 
our cultural elite are once again praising the virtues of drug use, 
further obscuring the message.
  Just as we have to give new immunization shots to a new group of 
teenagers every year. Just as we have to teach a new class geometry, 
and algebra, and civic responsibilities--every year--we have to provide 
the moral guidance and information to a new crop of kids that will 
protect them from drug use.
  We have to have the clear, unambiguous message from all sources that 
can penetrate that teen sense of immortality that persuades them that 
nothing bad can happen to them simply because they are young. We need 
to sustain that message so that kids can learn that things they do 
today can have bad consequences years later. 

[[Page S17062]]

  When we fail to get the word out repeatedly and pointedly, we put our 
young people at even greater risk. And it encourages those today who 
still push the 1960's agenda that has destroyed so many promising 
lives. We cannot afford to do this. We have seen the consequences. And 
the increases in cocaine and heroin hospital emergencies today are a 
legacy of our foolishness yesterday. We cannot let this happen to our 
tomorrow.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. PRESSLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota [Mr. Pressler] 
is recognized.
  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 
minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator may speak as in morning business for 5 minutes.

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