[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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