DRUG FIGHT MUST STAY FOCUSED

Drug use among America's youth continues to decline, according to a
report released this week.

While that news is encouraging, we must remain vigilant in this
country if we are going to continue to win the war against drugs.

Of concern is the fact that cough syrup, prescription painkillers and
inhalants remain a popular choice among our youth.

For the better part of the last decade, drug use among teen-agers has
declined.

For the fifth straight year, the use of marijuana has
dropped.

Other drugs on the decline are methamphetamine and crack
cocaine.

Among the drugs which have remained stagnant in their use are LSD,
inhalants, cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, tranquilizers, sedatives and
"club drugs," such as Ecstasy.

That's why we need to remain focused in our fight.

We need to continue to educate our children about the dangers of drug
use.

We need to continue to make funds available to law enforcement
officials to combat the problem.

The University of Michigan survey found that the prescription drug
OxiContin is on the rise among eighth and 10th graders.

In fact, its use reached a record level of 2.6 percent with eighth
graders and 3.8 percent with 10th graders this year.

The Monitoring the Future annual survey polled 50,000 high school and
middle school students and was conducted by the University of Michigan
for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Among seniors in high school, however, use of OxiContin and Vicodin
did see a slight drop.

One of the key reasons why we need to stay on top of the battle
against drug use is that while the use of inhalants and Ecstacy is
declining among seniors, a rising number of them do not consider these
drugs dangerous.

We need to drill into the heads of our youth that drugs are dangerous,
whether they are prescribed or not.

They need to know that just because you can walk into your local drug
store and purchase cough syrup or any other kind of over-the-counter
drug, it must be used properly.

Our federal, state and local governments have done a good job in
waging a war on drugs.

The real battles must still be fought at home.

Parents are ultimately responsible for educating their
children.

It's time to step up, America, and deliver a knockout
blow.

Teach your kids to say NO to drugs.