Pubdate: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 Source: PR Newswire Copyright: 1999 PR Newswire MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATE IMPACTS TEEN DRUG USE Americans Speak Out in FRC's Annual Drug Survey WASHINGTON, Sixty percent of voters say the debate about marijuana's usefulness as a medicine has had an impact on teens' willingness to try the drug, according to a poll released by the Family Research Council Wednesday. Also, 64 percent said they opposed needle exchange programs when informed that recent scientific studies have found that addicts who were not enrolled in exchange programs were less likely to become AIDS- infected than those who were enrolled. "Americans are very concerned about the increase in teen drug use," said FRC's Robert Maginnis, senior director for national security and foreign policy. "When presented with the details on drug policies, instead of emotional appeals, Americans see right through the smoke screen of drug legalizers and reject medical marijuana and needle exchange programs." The poll also queried voters on other hot topics within the drug policy arena: * Almost 90 percent of respondents said that pregnant drug users should be considered guilty of child abuse. * Fifty-six percent said they believe that doctors should legally be able to prescribe as much pain medication as is necessary, even if that runs the risk of addiction. * Other results include a majority in support of random school-based drug testing with parental consent. For the second year in a row, voters tapped drug interdiction to be the appropriate top federal priority in fighting drugs, with prevention being the second most important priority. The findings are timely, given the bills already introduced in Congress would prohibit federal funds from going to needle exchange programs, and distribute funds to school districts for drug testing. Family Research Council commissions an annual poll on drug policy issues. For this year's survey, one thousand voters were contacted from February 8 - 10, 1999. SOURCE Family Research Council Web site: http://www.frc.org/ Family Research Council - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea