[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12186-S12187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page S12186]]
SENATE RESOLUTION 295 TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR ELIMINATING THE USE OF HEROIN
Mr. COATS (for himself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Coverdell) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Labor and
Human Resources:
S. Res. 295
Whereas heroin use in the United States continues to
increase;
Whereas drug use among teenagers in the United States is
increasing and the number of teenagers that are using heroin
for the first time is higher than any other number previously
determined;
Whereas between 1992 and 1996, heroin use among college-age
students increased an estimated 10 percent;
Whereas an estimated 810,000 chronic heroin addicts live in
the United States;
Whereas an estimated 115,000 heroin addicts in the United
States are currently participating in methadone programs;
Whereas methadone is a synthetic opiate and the use of
methadone in treatment for heroin addiction results in the
transfer of addiction from one drug to another drug;
Whereas heroin addicts and methadone addicts are unable to
function as self-sufficient, productive members of society;
Whereas methadone addicts who attempt to become drug free
experience the same difficult withdrawal process as that
experienced by heroin addicts;
Whereas the Clinton Administration, through the Office of
National Drug Control Policy, is directing the drug policy of
the United States toward the wrong goals by announcing a new
heroin policy;
Whereas that heroin policy would double the number of
heroin addicts transferred to methadone addiction, loosen
controls with respect to the licensing of methadone
dispensers, and promote methadone addiction as the principal
means of ending heroin addiction;
Whereas no official responsible for that policy has
consulted with Congress concerning that policy and the
Clinton Administration lacks sufficient statutory and
budgetary authority to carry out that policy; and
Whereas in promoting methadone addiction as the preferred
treatment for heroin addiction, the Clinton Administration
has abandoned heroin addicts to a lifetime of Government-
sponsored drug dependency: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the Federal Government should adopt a zero-tolerance
drug-free policy that has as its principal objective the
elimination of drug abuse and addiction, including both
methadone and heroin;
(2) Congress should conduct a thorough examination of the
national drug control policy of the United States to
determine the reasons for the failure of methadone and
methadone maintenance programs to eliminate heroin addiction;
(3) Congress should carefully examine alternative
approaches to curing heroin addiction, and focus on
treatments that eliminate dependence on, or addiction to, any
substance or drug; and
(4) Congress should work with the Clinton Administration to
develop an effective drug control policy that--
(A) includes a clear and comprehensive strategy to provide
for a transition to a zero-tolerance, drug-free program that
is based on detoxification and the comprehensive treatment of
the pathology of drug addiction;
(B) addresses other human needs that contribute to
recidivism among recovering heroin addicts; and
(C) provides opportunities for former addicts to become
self-sufficient, productive members of society.
Mr. McCain. Mr. President, I am here today with my colleagues,
Senator Coats and Senator Coverdell, to submit a resolution providing
much needed direction to our nation's battle against heroin addiction.
Drug abuse continues to plague our society, destroying families,
futures and opportunities for millions of Americans each year.
Addiction to drugs, particularly devastating drugs like heroin,
endangers the well-being of all citizens, particularly our children,
and thus the future of this nation.
Recent statistics show dramatic increases in drug use among children
and pain a chilling image of the obstacles facing our nation before we
can claim victory in the battle against drugs. In a 1997 study, almost
12 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17 report using an
illicit drug in the preceding 30 days. The number of children using
heroin for the first time is at its highest level in 30 years, and
today there are over 810,000 heroin addicts in our country.
Clearly, we are still quite far from winning the war drugs.
This is why I am concerned and, honestly, frustrated by the policies
which are being promoted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) to combat heroin addiction. Under the direction of General
McCaffrey, the ONDCP and the Administration have announced their
decision to spend $3.7 billion to double the number of heroin addicts
in methadone maintenance programs, which ONDCP has unilaterally chosen
as the preferred treatment for heroin addicts.
Mr. President, I have serious concerns about this recently announced
policy.
First, methadone treatment programs simply transfer addiction from
one drug, heroin, to another drug, methadone. Methadone treatment
merely transfers dependency. It does nothing to provide addicts with
the training and support necessary to function as self-sufficient,
productive members of society. Methadone maintenance programs alone
force individuals into a life of government-sponsored drug dependency.
Second, ONDCP did not consult with Congress about this significant
and expensive policy decision. The simple fact is that ONDCP has
neither the statutory nor budget authority to implement this policy
without Congressional approval. And it is not clear that spending
nearly $4 billion on expanded methadone maintenance programs is a wise
or effective use of the resources available to combat drug abuse and
addiction in this country.
Mr. President, eradicating heroin use is a difficult issue which must
be addressed with careful deliberation, extensive dialogue and a
thorough examination. Our policies and programs must be designed to
free heroin addicts from their addition, not hook them on another
government-condoned drug.
The resolution we are submitting today calls on Congress to focus on
developing effective policies and program for ending heroin addiction.
We should be looking at all alternatives to methadone treatment,
especially those that do not involve transferring addiction or
dependence on substances. We should also include programs to provide
training and support to former addicts to help them become productive
members of our society. And we should be working to develop drug
strategies that will further our goal of a drug-free America.
Let me take a moment to thank my dear friend, Dan Coats, for his work
in putting together this resolution. His thoughtful and caring devotion
to improving the lives of children and the less fortunate in our
society will be sorely missed.
Mr. President, I realize that time is short in this Congress, but I
strongly believe that eliminating drug abuse and addiction in America
should be a high priority for the Administration and Congress. I urge
my colleagues to give careful consideration to this issue and join in
working toward that goal in the 106th Congress.
Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, today I join Senator Coats and Senator
McCain in submitting a Senate Resolution renouncing the recent proposal
by the Administration to expand methadone maintenance programs.
Methadone is a so-called ``treatment'' for heroin addiction. Heroin is
a highly addictive opiate which leads its users down a path of crime
and self-destruction, and the prescription of methadone is simply a
means to sustain addiction. My colleagues and I do realize the need for
help, but do not believe the answer is exchanging one addiction for
another.
The Administration has failed to consult Congress of its plan to
increase the number of methadone maintenance programs and to loosen
regulations of licensed methadone dispensers. We frown upon the idea of
paying for drug addiction. Our Resolution states the need for
Congressional hearings in order to compare the Administration's
proposal with alternative drug-free treatment programs.
Alternatives such as the Ready, Willing and Able program have been
extremely successful in helping Americans who are addicted to drugs,
homeless, or in many cases, both. This program is based on community.
It provides wages earned from community based jobs in exchange for
room, board and positive reinforcement in a drug-free environment. I
believe comprehensive treatment programs such as this are a positive
step in our war against drugs.
America will have achieved nothing in the fight against drugs if we
keep
[[Page S12187]]
funding programs that allow us to look the other way without looking at
the facts. We need to hear from those who are methadone users, those
who are previous methadone users, and those who administer methadone.
We need to look at statistics, look at current funding, and look at
current problems within the programs. I don't believe we have solved
anyone's drug addiction if we can still call them an addict. Methadone
users are addicts and they face the same withdrawals as those on
heroin. Let's find solutions to our Nation's drug problems, not follow
the Administration's example, which further feeds and funds drug
addiction.
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