[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WAR ON DRUGS REQUIRES COMMITMENT AT THE TOP

  (Mr. LUCAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, whether we like it or not, some among us are 
expected to be role models. By sheer virtue of a media-intensive 
position, actors, athletes, and politicians are often thrust into the 
role model limelight.
  That's why it comes as no surprise that after a substantial decline 
during the late 80's and early 90's, overall drug use nearly doubled in 
the last 4 years.
  It also should come as no surprise that those who idolize are often 
young and impressionable, and that overall drug use among 12- to 17-
year-olds between 1992 and 1995 went up 78 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, starting from the top, those of us in Congress and those 
at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue should renew this Nation's 
commitment to fighting perhaps our most important war to date--the war 
on drugs.

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