YOUTH DRUG-USE ALERT

The late '80s and very early '90s were much different from today. In 1990
drug use among youth was going down. Marijuana use by twelfth graders had
dropped 68 percent from 1978 to 1992. This dramatic decline in marijuana
use was due in large part to parents and other concerned adults recognizing
that our youth were in serious peril and that someone needed to do
something to stop it.

During the 1980s little was known about the signs or effects of different
drugs, but what parents did recognize was that the behaviors of their
children were exhibiting were neither normal nor healthy. In an effort to
protect the children, drug prevention was started. People educated
themselves and other about drugs. Attitudes and policies were changed.
There was a strong and consistent "no use" message about drug use.

So, what has happened since 1992 to cause marijuana use among twelfth
graders to go up 22 percent and other drug use to increase?

* Relatively few parents and concerned adults are presently actively
engaged in protecting children from drug use. During the '80s, there
existed in the United States thousands of parent groups whose mission was
to prevent drug use.

* People don't know what to do to stop the problem, and they feel
overwhelmed by the enormity of it. This is also the generation who used in
the sixties and seventies and is uncomfortable talking to their children
about drugs and, in some instances, is continuing to use.

* There is no longer a strong "no use" message about drug use. Today, there
are "do drug" messages coming from our leaders, music, fashions and the
media. Funds for drug prevention have run out.

* The U.S. has been under siege by people who want drugs legalized. These
well financed people have carefully crafted and executed a strategy
designed to systematically break down our long held beliefs and convictions
that drug use is harmful and wrong. Proponents of legalizing drugs mark
marijuana as a "medicine," promote giving clean needles to drug addicts,
advertise heroin chic fashions, and push hemp as an agricultural crop.

So, what do we do to protect our children from using drugs?

* First, understand that we can stop children from using drugs. It was done
in the '80s when marijuana use plummeted 68 percent. We can stop the demand
for drugs through drug prevention efforts.

* Counter "do drug" messages, behaviors and policies. Support local, state
and national drug reduction efforts. Support drug treatment.

* Pray for the children - prayer is the most promising answer we have.

I know that we can stop our children from using drugs, if each family works
to educate their children. If we don't, the next decade will be our undoing.

Judy Kreamer

IDEA President

Naperville

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski