Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 Source: Tucson Citizen (AZ) Copyright: 2003 Tucson Citizen Contact: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/461 Author: The Associated Press FEDERAL DRUG CZAR, GOVERNOR HELP UNVEIL ADDICTION EXHIBIT PHOENIX - Federal drug czar John Walters and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano helped open an exhibit on addiction at the Arizona Science Museum yesterday. The $300,000 exhibit showcases the latest research on the brain through interactive displays, a simulated brain scanner, video of brain science labs and six first-person stories of young addicts in recovery. "Giving young people access to the latest scientific information is an important way to help them make healthy decisions about drug use," Walters said. If it proves successful as an educational tool, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which Walters heads, would consider sponsoring another 10 similar exhibits nationwide. Of the 15.9 million drug users in America, 23 percent are teenagers and the majority use marijuana - more so than ever before, Walters said. A recent survey shows nearly half of Arizona's eighth-graders, high school juniors and seniors have used alcohol in the past month. Walters has been an outspoken critic of initiatives passed in Arizona to allow for the medical use of marijuana. In addition to opening the exhibit, Walters and Napolitano fielded questions from about 100 eighth-graders who were getting their first look at the exhibit. Hillcrest Middle School student Jessica Turner said drugs at her school are not as much of a problem as drug use after school. "Outside of school, it can get bad. And then you can see the side effects in people during class," she said. Walters has repeatedly criticized previous antidrug ad campaigns, saying teenagers were ignoring them. "Drug use is not a harmless rite of passage for youth," he said. New ads sponsored by his office have taken a more direct, biting tone in their antidrug messages. Recent campaigns launched by Walters include a series of ads linking drugs to terrorism. Yesterday, Walters encouraged kids to speak out to their drug-using peers. "We need you not to be a passive observer," he told the students. Napolitano, who has acknowledged experimenting with marijuana in college, said that the drug problem will be eradicated only by reducing the demand for drugs through treatment. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth