[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 50 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Pages 1519-1520]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

December 13, 2008

    Good morning. This week, our country received good news in the fight 
against illegal drugs. New data show that illicit drug use amongst young 
people continues to decline, and that we are making good progress in our 
efforts to help thousands of Americans renew their health and hope.
    Substance abuse is a serious challenge for our Nation. Addiction 
breaks hearts, destroys families, and keeps our citizens from fulfilling 
their God-given potential. The drug trade also enriches our enemies and 
brings crime and violence to our streets. So in 2002, I committed our 
Nation to an ambitious effort to cut drug use by limiting demand, 
reducing supply, and helping addicts get treatment.
    Over the past 6 years, we've made great strides toward these goals. 
Parents, teachers, mentors, and counselors have done fantastic work to 
educate children about the dangers of drug abuse. Law enforcement 
officers have risked their lives to cut the supply of drugs on city 
streets. And with help from our international partners, we're pursuing 
drug dealers around the world and interdicting supply before it reaches 
our shores. This year, the Coast Guard took possession of more than 
360,000 pounds of South American cocaine--an alltime record.
    To help Americans break the chains of addiction, we've built strong 
partnerships with faith-based and community groups. These groups open 
minds and change hearts in a way no government bureaucracy can, so my 
administration has supported their life-changing work. Through our 
Access to Recovery program, addicts receive vouchers they can redeem at 
treatment centers of their choice, including faith-based centers. So 
far, this program has helped more than 260,000 addicts along the path 
toward clean lives.
    Taken together, our efforts to reduce demand, cut supply, and help 
people break the chains of addiction are yielding measurable results. 
Over the past 7 years, marijuana use by young people has dropped by 25 
percent. Methamphetamine use by young people is down by 50 percent. And 
the use of cocaine, hallucinogens, steroids, and alcohol by America's 
youth are all on the decline. Overall, illegal drug use by Americans is 
down by 25 percent, meaning we have helped approximately 900,000 young 
people stay clean.
    These statistics reflect successful government policies. They also 
represent the courage and compassion of Americans who are determined to 
help their fellow citizens win their struggle against drugs. On 
Thursday, I met with some of these people at the White House, and I am 
inspired by their stories.
    I was especially interested in a young man named Josh. At age 19, 
Josh had never touched drugs or alcohol. He had a promising life and 
career ahead of him. Yet after a car accident left him injured and 
unable to work, Josh started abusing alcohol and cocaine. He put his 
marriage and career in jeopardy. Eight different treatment programs 
failed to turn his life around, but the intervention of his grandmother, 
the support of his wife, and the loving influence of God did. Today, 
this young man is free of drugs. He's a caring husband and father. And 
Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is one of the best players in Major 
League Baseball. More importantly, he and his wife Katie make time to 
share their blessings. Through their ministry, they're helping other 
Americans avoid the suffering their family endured.
    Josh Hamilton shows that the devastation of drug addiction can 
happen to anyone, but that with faith and determination, anyone can turn 
a life around. So today I ask every American with a drug or alcohol 
problem to seek treatment, because your life is precious to the people 
who love you. Our Nation needs

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your contributions, and there is a more hopeful future ahead. I ask all 
Americans to reach out to your neighbors in need and do your part to 
help our Nation win the fight against illegal drugs.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 6:55 a.m. on December 12 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 
13. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December 12 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.