[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 148 (Tuesday, December 5, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 371

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MATT SALMON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2000

  Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, in September Congress ratified H. Con. Res. 
371, which resolves that Congress supports the goals and ideas of 
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Clearly, each 
Member shares the commitment to keep America's youth drug-free, and 
return those who have used drugs to a drug-free life. I add these 
comments in an effort to help achieve this goal.
  First, H. Con. Res. 371 states that ``26 million Americans currently 
suffer the ravages of drug or alcohol addiction.'' This statistic is 
presumably based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 
1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, which finds that roughly 
26 million Americans are heavy drinkers or are casual-to-dependent 
users of one or more illicit drugs. The report does not state that 
these individuals are suffering from an addiction. The absence of this 
distinction could result in misdirected program development and 
misappropriated funding. Affected are those who direct public and 
private resources; to counselors and treatment professionals who 
develop protocols for assistance; to employers who strive to maintain 
drug-free work environments; to the criminal justice system which must 
be accountable to the public they serve; and to our Nation's families 
who rely on accurate information, accurately communicated.
  H. Con. Res. 371 also states that adolescents who undergo addiction 
treatment report less use of marijuana, less heavy drinking, and less 
criminal involvement. Let us hold ourselves and treatment outcomes to a 
higher standard. While interim goals can be applauded, the fact that 
youth who receive treatment continue to use drugs--albeit less often--
and continue to be involved in criminal activity--albeit less often--
cannot become our Nation's standard for success.
  Nelba Chavez, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration, spoke of the need to provide better focus of 
the treatment programs that serve young people, when she said that, 
``few seek help, and those who do often receive treatment that is 
inappropriate. Many treatment programs are designed for adults and are 
ill-equipped to meet the needs of adolescents.''
  Although abstinence from illicit drug use is the central goal of all 
drug abuse treatment, researchers and program staff involved with adult 
treatment commonly accept reductions in drug use and criminal behavior 
as realistic goals. Surprisingly, we are now advised by the National 
Institute on Drug Abuse that ``a good treatment outcome may be a 
sizable decrease in drug use and long periods of abstinence.''
  Our Nation's policy goal regarding drugs is the creation of a drug-
free America. Specifically, in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, drug 
abuse is to be curbed by preventing youth from using illegal drugs, 
reducing the number of users, and decreasing drug availability.
  Let us hold this vision of a drug-free America and hold ourselves to 
this standard. Anything less is a disservice to ourselves, to the 
adults who currently use drugs and, most certainly, to our most 
precious resource--America's youth.

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