AMERICANS CONCERNED ABOUT DRUG USE AMONG TEENS

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."