[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DRUGS AND YOUTH: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, last week retired Army General 
Barry McCaffrey was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be this Nation's 
fifth drug czar. Perhaps the biggest, and most important, challenge 
facing General McCaffrey is the emerging trend of increasing drug use 
among young people. A recent survey of students in the 8th, 10th and 
12th grades yielded some troubling results. According to the annual 
Monitoring the Future survey, drug use among secondary school students, 
particularly marijuana, is on the increase. The nationwide study also 
found that the use of LSD, stimulants, inhalants and hallucinogens also 
increased, albeit not to the extent of marijuana use.
  As a parent, perhaps the most troubling of the study's findings was 
that which gauged the attitudes of young people regarding the risks of 
drug use. The proportion of secondary school students who see drug use 
as dangerous continued to decline in 1995. The significance of this 
should not be overlooked. In regard to the risk of drug use, the 
Department of Health and Human Services found that 9 out of 10 adult 
cocaine users started using drugs as a teenager. The potential problem 
increases when one considers that there are currently 39 million 
Americans under the age of 10. Given these demographics, the actual 
number of teens using drugs will increase when these children reach 
their late teens and twenties, even if the percentage of users remains 
the same as it is today. Failure to address these emerging attitudes, 
in addition to leading to increased youth drug use, may also lead to 
increased crime and violence which often accompanies drug abuse.
  In an effort to learn from the experiences of communities all across 
the Nation and raise awareness about youth drug use and the violence, 
President Clinton has invited concerned individuals from all across the 
Nation to a national summit which is taking place today in Greenbelt, 
MD. In addition several cities, including Milwaukee, will be joining 
the summit by video teleconference. Wisconsin will be well represented 
both in Greenbelt and Milwaukee.
  Among those representing Wisconsin in Greenbelt is Capt. Charles 
Tubbs of the Beloit Police Department. As head of the department's 
community relations division, Captain Tubbs has gained national 
recognition for his efforts in regard to gangs and school related 
violence. His leadership has led to the development of many community 
based initiatives which deal directly with the problems associated with 
young people.
  Coordinating the Milwaukee site will be James Mosely, director of the 
Milwaukee-based, Fighting Back Initiative. This program draws upon many 
resources from throughout the community to deal directly with the 
problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse in Milwaukee's north 
and southside communities.
  The national summit presents an opportunity to learn about these 
community based antidrug efforts as well as others from all across this 
Nation. A great deal can be learned from the people in our cities and 
towns who deal with these problems on a daily basis. A comprehensive 
antidrug policy must develop partnerships which build on the 
experiences and needs of local communities.
  One such partnership involving the Drug Enforcement Agency and law 
enforcement in northeastern Wisconsin recently resulted in a drug bust 
garnering 40 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of 
$250,000. The officers of the Brown County Sheriff's Department, as 
well as the DEA agents who lent a helping hand, deserve our respect and 
admiration for their willingness to identify a problem and work 
together to solve it. We should learn from their example, and seek more 
co-operative efforts of this nature. I am pleased that General 
McCaffrey has indicated that he intends to do just that.
  In closing, Mr. President, Capt. Tubbs and James Mosely are just a 
few examples of the hundreds of dedicated people all across our State 
who are committed to helping young people lead better lives and in the 
process, making our communities better places to live. There can be 
little doubt that drug use, particularly among our young people, 
presents a danger and that finding the solution will require the 
dedication of each of us. As General McCaffrey acknowledged, solving 
the drug problem will not occur overnight, it will take a determined 
and consistent effort over a number of years. Building on the good work 
and experiences of people like Charles Tubbs and James Mosely is a good 
place to start.

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