Pubdate: Wed, 25 May 2005
Source: State, The (SC)
Copyright: 2005 The State
Contact:  http://www.thestate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/426
Author: John Walters
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

COMMUNITY TAKING ACTION AGAINST DRUGS

Over the past three years, we have seen significant declines in youth drug 
use in America. Today, there are 600,000 fewer young people using illegal 
drugs than in 2001.

An increasing number of young people deserves credit for making smart 
choices about their health and their futures. However, it must be noted 
that the progress we have made in reducing illegal drug use does not happen 
on its own. We know from 25 years of dealing with the misery of drug use 
that most of the work to reduce drug use in America happens at the local level.

Recently, I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand some of the hard work 
of anti-drug community coalitions in Columbia working to prevent young 
people from destroying their lives with dangerous addictive substances.

Preventing drug use among teenagers is crucial. Extensive research has 
shown us that if we can prevent young people from drinking and using drugs 
through their teenage years, the likelihood of them using or becoming 
addicted later in life drops dramatically. The Lexington/Richland Alcohol 
and Drug Abuse Council has a clear understanding of the importance of this, 
and has implemented a variety of programs to deter youth alcohol and drug 
use in the Columbia area.

At Dutch Fork High School, alcohol enforcement teams educate students about 
the harms of drinking and driving. Dutch Fork students have mobilized to 
fight negative peer pressure by asking their friends and classmates to sign 
pledges not to drink or use drugs on prom day.

At Dutch Fork Middle School, an education campaign is underway to tell 
students that "not everybody" uses drugs. Students in the "Crowd 9" club 
produce ads with facts explaining that nine out of 10 middle school 
students do not drink or use drugs.

We also understand that in order to make even more progress we must 
strengthen our efforts with new and proven programs that save lives. 
Nationally, we are now providing funding for the increasing number of 
public schools that have chosen to implement random student drug testing to 
detect and deter use among students. Random student drug testing by law 
must not be punitive, and the results are confidential. School-based 
testing programs give young people a reprieve from the forces of negative 
peer pressure and arm them with an excuse to say "no" to drugs. Students on 
the path toward addiction can be sent to help.

We are also increasing funding for local drug treatment programs through 
the national Access to Recovery program in order to make sure that those 
who have already become enslaved by drug addiction can recover and live 
healthy, productive lives. The national drug court program is also 
expanding its number of courts and using the power of the criminal justice 
system to divert nonviolent drug and alcohol offenders away from jail and 
into supervised drug treatment programs.

After visiting Columbia, I am even more convinced that parents, students 
and communities are not powerless against the drug problem. We will 
continue to support their work and the work of other communities across the 
nation who are working to reduce drug use and make our country a healthier, 
safer place.

Mr. Walters is director of National Drug Control Policy, the nation's "drug 
czar."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman