FLORIDA AWARDED $9 MILLION TO COMBAT CHILD DRUG USE

WASHINGTON July 13 (States) -- The Sunshine State will receive $9 million
to fight illegal drug use by children, under a new plan unveiled by
President Clinton last week.

Florida was one of 14 states picked to share $122 million in federal grant
money that will be distributed over the next three years.

Florida was chosen to receive the money after the federal government
determined that there is a high rate of substance abuse in the state.

Also, a joint cooperative effort between the University of Miami and Gov.
Lawton Chiles' office strengthened the application, said Ken DeCerchio,
assistant secretary for the Florida Department of Children and Families
Substance Abuse Program.

Monitoring The Future, a national survey on drug use in 1995 and 1996,
showed that Florida outpaced the nation in youth drug abuse.

The national average for marijuana use among eighth graders in 1995 was 9.1
percent, while marijuana use by Florida eighth graders skyrocketed to 14
percent, the survey said. Use of marijuana, cocaine, and inhalants by
Florida 10th graders and 12th graders was also significantly higher than
the national average.

"Team Florida," a task-force consisting of state agencies including
Juvenile Justice, Education and Health and Human Resources will join a host
of Sunshine State politicians to determine which drugs are rampant among
Florida youth, and what steps that need to be taken to decrease use. Team
Florida will also coordinate their efforts with local tobacco coalitions to
try and lower children's tobacco use.

"The governor has provided the authority for this group to come together,"
said DeCerchio. "One of the areas we're targeting is the increased use of
marijuana. It's the primary drug of choice for children admitted for
treatment in Florida."

The task-force will make 25 grants a year ranging from $75,000 to $125,000
each to high-risk communities, although it has not yet been

determined who will receive the money, DeCerchio said.But he said the
communities will be a cross-section of rural and urban communities that are
battling the drug problem.

DeCerchio blamed the state's geographic location for the drug problem in
Florida. Having extensive coastal ports and being a border state to the
Caribbean and South America puts Florida's communities at higher risk, he
said.

DeCerchio said the money is "substantial" to Florida's war to end illegal
drug use by children.

"We will reach between 4,000 and 5,000 children with this," he said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski