cannabisnews.com: Americans Concerned About Drug Use Among Teens 





Americans Concerned About Drug Use Among Teens 
Posted by FoM on November 20, 1999 at 16:52:42 PT
By Associated Press
Source: Boston Globe
Americans are worried about drug use, particularly among adolescents, and would be willing to spend their tax money to fight the problem, according to a poll commissioned by the White House. 
The poll by the Gallup Organization found that illegal drug use rates high among the concern of Americans. More than half of those surveyed, 53 percent, said their concern about drug use has increased over the past five years. Crack cocaine was listed as the biggest concern for 56 percent of those surveyed. Marijuana, heroin, and other drugs was considered problems by less than 10 percent. The telephone survey of 2,032 adults was conducted by the Gallup Organization from Nov. 4, 1998 to Jan. 31, 1999. It was released Saturday by the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy, which commissioned the survey. Bob Wiener, a spokesman for the agency, said the report's release was delayed because the office needed to ''sort through the presentation of data.'' The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. According to the poll, about eight out of 10 Americans, 81 percent, said it was ''extremely important'' for the government to spend its resources on reducing illegal drug use among children and adolescents. In particular, the money should be spent on programs educating youth about drugs, respondents said. Barry McCaffrey, the White House drug policy chief, said the survey ''confirms the success of the priorities and agenda of the National Drug Strategy education and prevention for youth, drug treatment to reduce crime and improve public health, law enforcement, interdiction and source country efforts.'' Related Article:USA Today Article:What Should You Tell Your Kids About Your Drug Use-11/17/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3704.shtmlSo, What Did You Smoke, Mom? - 11/11/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3637.shtmlThe Parenting Problems Of Pot - 8/12/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2452.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #1 posted by Scott on November 21, 1999 at 08:52:18 PT:
Success huh? Yeah, right.
>Barry McCaffrey, the White House drug policy chief, said >the survey ''confirms the success of the priorities and >agenda of the National Drug Strategy education and>prevention for youth, drug treatment to reduce crime and >improve public health, law enforcement, interdiction and >source country efforts.'' What success? I don't see much success. I can buy a crack rock in Lowell from a stranger easier then I can buy a can of beer at a 7-11. Not to mention the fact that our prisons have way too many non-violent drug offenders in them. Perhaps we should allocate our funds differently... I would be willing to pay tax money to reduce drug abuse among adolescents, but not with the policy we are pushing now. Treatment has been proven to not only be more cost efficient, but also more sucessful then throwing up the drug user in a prison, where drugs are still easy to obtain. I like to use the phrase "I knew a man who went to prison for being a stoner, he came out a coke head". Yeah, good job fixing the problem Mr. McCaffery. Scott
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: