[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 1 (Monday, January 8, 2001)]
[Pages 12-13]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Report on the National Drug Control Strategy

January 4, 2001

    The 2001 Annual Report on our National Drug Control Strategy issued 
today by National Drug Policy Director Barry McCaffrey shows that 
America is making real progress in the fight against illegal drugs but 
that we must never give up on making our children's futures safe and 
drug-free. The most recent National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found 
that drug use by youths aged 12 to 17 has declined 21 percent since 
1997.
    Adolescents increasingly disapprove of illegal drugs, and a growing 
number are using positive peer pressure to help friends stay away from 
drugs. We have made similar

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progress combating illegal drug organizations that traffic in these 
poisons. Additionally, drug-related murders are down to their lowest 
level in over a decade.
    Despite our progress, drugs continue to exact a tremendous toll on 
our Nation. Studies report an increase in the use of steroids and club 
drugs, such as ecstasy, by youths, and too many young people are still 
using alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances. In addition, one in four 
inmates in State prisons and more than 60 percent of Federal inmates are 
drug offenders. We need to continue to build on successful initiatives 
like our Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign so our children can make smart 
decisions and stay away from drugs. We must also make investments to 
improve after-school opportunities so our children are supervised during 
the hours when they are most vulnerable to drugs and crime. In addition, 
we have a responsibility to reduce the treatment gap as well as help 
close the revolving prison door of drug offenders by expanding drug 
courts and drug testing and treatment programs, which have been shown to 
cut recidivism by as much as 44 percent.
    I urge the 107th Congress to continue working together in the 
bipartisan spirit of my administration so that we may tackle these 
important challenges and eliminate the devastating impact of drugs on 
our Nation's communities.