[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Pages 3094-3095]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the 2000 Monitoring the Future Survey

December 14, 2000

    Today's 2000 Monitoring the Future Survey confirms that we are 
making real progress in our fight against youth drug and tobacco use. 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study released by 
Secretary Donna Shalala and Office of National Drug Control Policy 
Director Barry McCaffrey shows teen cigarette use falling sharply across 
all grades surveyed. The percentage of teenagers reporting cigarette use 
in the past month dropped by nearly 10 percent among high school 
seniors, and over 15 percent among eighth graders. The study also shows 
that efforts to change student attitudes on tobacco are having a 
positive impact: More teens now believe that smoking carries risks, 
while fewer report that cigarettes are readily available. This year also 
marks the fourth in a row that overall teenage use of illicit drugs has 
remained stable or declined. In particular, the data shows a significant 
drop in cocaine use among high school seniors and heroin use among 
eighth graders in 2000. In combination with the National Household and 
PRIDE surveys this year, these results demonstrate a continuing downward 
trend in overall youth drug use.
    Today's research shows that the efforts of the Clinton/Gore 
administration have put us on the right track to give our children 
safer, healthier futures. Vice President Gore and I have fought hard to 
reverse the dangerous youth smoking trends we saw throughout the earlier 
part of the 1990's. We worked to raise the price of tobacco to keep it 
out of the hands of children and urged States to do their part by 
implementing effective, comprehensive tobacco control and prevention 
approaches. My administration also developed the first nationwide plan 
to protect children from the dangers of tobacco, and I have continued to 
call on Congress to take further steps, including passing legislation to 
approve FDA's authority to implement this plan. Meanwhile, our National 
Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and other initiatives have helped to 
change attitudes and steer children away from illegal drugs.

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    These efforts have made a difference, but we cannot afford to let up 
in this fight. Today's results also show emerging threats, such as 
increased Ecstasy use, while also reminding us that the overall levels 
of youth drug, tobacco, and alcohol use remain unacceptably high. I urge 
the next Congress to support these proven efforts to give our children 
the safe and healthy futures that they deserve.