PSYCHOLOGIST BLAMES LAX SOCIETY FOR DRUG ABUSE

OGDEN -- A pervasive attitude of "freedom without accountability"
begun in the 1960s helps sustain a drug and alcohol culture in
American society, and the problem is not getting much attention from
authorities.

That was the message from George Ross on Thursday to about 150 people
at the ninth annual Addiction Conference held at Weber State
University. A psychologist who runs a drug-treatment clinic in
Kentucky, Ross has written a book on adolescent addiction and travels
the country speaking about the problems of drug and alcohol abuse.

"We're talking about a third generation involved in drug abuse," Ross
said, adding that society has become so jaded by drug use that it
views indulgence by young people as "a great recreational sport." He
said some people think it is normal behavior for teen-agers to drink
and do drugs.

Part of the problem in reversing the trend is that leaders today do
not seem to be paying much attention to the crisis when the only drug
message coming out of Washington, D.C., is, "I didn't inhale," said
Ross, in reference to a comment President Clinton once made when asked
if he had ever smoked marijuana.

He also blamed parents for ignoring drug abuse among their children.
Much of the time, parents see drug use as normal behavior, he said,
and that is one of the reasons drugs are so prevalent among teens.
They are accepted, promoted, and permitted by adults.

"Are kids producing the drugs? Are they making money?" asked Ross.
"No, the adults are."

He said parents should follow certain guidelines when raising their
children, including setting healthy expectations by example, getting
more involved in their lives and setting boundaries.

If drug and alcohol use were reduced, Ross said, there would be fewer
high school dropouts, fewer cases of HIV, less domestic violence and a
drop in the numbers of murders and other violent crimes.