[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1505]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         MONITORING DRUG POLICY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, while we were away for the winter break, 
the annual high school survey on drug use trends among 8th, 10th, and 
12th graders came out. This annual Monitoring the Future study, 
released on December 17, revealed little change in trends of illicit 
drug use among our young people. The administration has tried to put a 
happy face on the results. But there is little to be happy about.
  Although the Monitoring the Future study found that the increase in 
drug use among teens has slowed down, what the data show is that use 
and experimentation remain at high levels. You can see from this chart 
that we still face the discouraging fact that nearly 50 percent of our 
high school seniors reported use of marijuana, not only in 1999, but in 
the 2 previous years as well. In fact, 12th grader use of marijuana is 
at its highest since 1992. In addition, 23 percent of the high school 
seniors questioned in the past 3 years, reported that they had used 
marijuana in the past 30 days. Sadly, the study also found that the 
percentage of 10th graders who reported use of marijuana increased from 
39.6 percent in 1998 to nearly 41 percent in 1999. Hardly news to find 
comfort in.
  Marijuana remains a gateway drug for even worse substances and this 
next chart shows overall illicit drug use among high school seniors. 
You can see in this second chart that, in 1999, nearly 55 percent of 
12th graders reported using an illicit drug in their lifetime. What 
that ``lifetime'' means is that 55 percent of 17-year-olds have at 
least tried marijuana or other dangerous, illicit drugs. That's an 
appalling figure. You can also see that this number is the highest it's 
been since 1992. With the Office of National Drug Control Policy's 
recent blitz of ads through the National Youth Anti-Drug Media 
Campaign, these high numbers are truly disappointing. It seems though, 
as the news gets worse, the press releases get happier. But it's still 
double-speak.
  Another upsetting finding was the increase in the use of the ``club 
drug,'' Ecstacy. Use of Ecstacy among 10th graders increased from 3.3 
percent in 1998 to 4.4 percent in 1999. In addition, use among 12th 
graders increased from 1.5 percent in 1998 to 2.5 percent in 1999. The 
increase in the use of these so called club drugs, such as Ecstacy, is 
particularly disturbing. This is so, because club drugs are frequently 
referred to as recreational drugs and are perceived by many young 
people as harmless. On December 23 of this past year, we were given a 
glimpse of the sheer magnitude and severity of the market for Ecstacy, 
when Customs officials seized 700 pounds of Ecstacy. These 700 pounds 
would have been enough to provide 1 million kids each with a single 
dose. Unfortunately, Ecstacy is quickly becoming the drug of choice 
among our young people. And it too is a gateway to wider drug use. 
Parents need to take a harder look at what their children are being 
exposed to.
  Last session I gave a floor statement on one particular club drug, 
that is frequently used in sexual assault cases, called GHB. I am 
pleased to learn from this year Monitoring the Future study that in 
next year's survey, young people will be questioned about use of GHB. 
But the issue is not this drug or that drug but the climate that 
encourages use and recruits kids into the drug scene. We must work to 
reverse the trend to normalize and glamorize drug use that has taken 
root in recent years.
  There is an encouraging decline in the use of inhalants among 8th and 
10th graders. And, use of crack cocaine among 8th and 10th graders is 
down slightly. In addition, 12th graders reported a significant 
decrease in the use of crystal meth from 3 percent in 1998 to about 2 
percent in 1999.
  As we begin not only a new year but a new millennium, we are faced 
with the difficult challenge of making the 21st century safe for our 
young people. Although we have made some progress, these study results 
leave our young people facing an uncertain future. We cannot be 
satisfied with unchanging trends in teenage drug use. We have not seen 
a significant decline in drug use among our country's young people 
since 1992. In fact, what we have seen are dramatic increases. This 
fact makes me pause and wonder what we have been doing for the past 8 
years. Whatever it is, it has failed to make the difference we need to 
be seeing. We need to move toward significant decreases in use. We need 
coherent, sound, accountable efforts. We must not neglect our duties in 
keeping our young people drug free. We are not in any position to let 
our guard down. We need policies and strategies that make a difference.

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