Pubdate: Thu, 07 Sep 2000
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Houston Chronicle
Contact:  Viewpoints Editor, P.O. Box 4260 Houston, Texas 77210-4260 
Fax: (713) 220-3575 
Website: http://www.chron.com/ 
Forum: http://www.chron.com/content/hcitalk/index.html 
Author: Associated Press
Note: This one features a photo of a grim-faced McCzar chatting with an
elderly native American couple

ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN IS AIMED AT AMERICAN INDIANS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Clinton administration unveiled a $2 million 
advertising campaign Wednesday aimed at fighting drug abuse among 
American Indians, who have the highest rates of drug use in the 
country.  

"I'm dismayed at how poorly we've responded to this problem," Clinton 
drug control adviser Barry McCaffrey said. He spoke at a conference of 
tribal leaders and substance abuse experts organized by the White House 
and other government agencies.  

A federal study released last week found that 19.6 percent of teen-age 
American Indians used illicit drugs, the highest rate of any group in 
the nation. The national average for those from 12 to 17 years old was 
9 percent.  

And although a lower percentage of Indians drink alcohol than the 
general population, alcohol-related deaths among Indians of ages 15-24 
are 17 times higher than the national average.  

McCaffrey showed off anti-drug advertisements his office is backing 
that will run in 79 tribal newspapers, eight national newspapers or 
magazines and scores of radio stations.  

The print ads include images of Indian fathers and sons, telling 
readers to "pass down the traditions and communicate to our youth that 
drugs are not part of our Native cultures."  

"Doing drugs is not the Indian way," the young announcer in one of the 
radio ads says.  

Some tribal officials at the conference said the federal government is 
not doing enough.  

"What are we doing with the people that are making the Budweisers, the 
Coors, that are killing us?" asked Lloyd Tortalita, governor of New 
Mexico's Acoma Pueblo. "The people that we elect to Congress are taking 
money from the alcohol makers. We will always have this problem with 
alcohol as long as that happens."  

McCaffrey said he agreed that alcohol abuse is America's top drug 
problem.  

"The alcohol industry has some political clout," McCaffrey said. "But I 
don't think the solution to alcohol abuse lies in Congress. I think it 
lies in the community."  

McCaffrey said his office has given 14 grants to alcohol and drug 
treatment or prevention programs for American Indians, and plans to 
give an additional 10 next week. Those grants are all for $100,000 or 
less and last up to three years.  

"It's so hard to get grants when we have 500 other tribes to fight 
with," Tortalita said. "When you do get a good program going, the grant 
is only one to three years. We need more funding."  

McCaffrey agreed and said some of the grants may need to be extended.  
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