SIMPLISTIC MESSAGE WON'T WIN DRUG WAR

Clinton Finds Feelgood Spin For Latest Survey

MORE high school students are using illegal drugs, abusing alcohol and
smoking cigarettes, according to a large nationwide survey funded by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse.

But the White House has found a feelgood spin to the annual ``Monitoring
the Future'' survey of 51,000 8th, 10th and 12th graders: The 8th graders
are slightly more likely to say they disapprove of drugs and slightly less
likely to say they've used most drugs, as well as cigarettes and alcohol.

President Clinton made much of the 8th grade numbers, which are not
statistically significant.

A more modest assessment comes from Lloyd Johnston of the University of
Michigan, the survey's principal investigator, who says the good news is
that drug use may be starting to level off, after rising for six years. Use
didn't increase for 8th graders and the rate of increase slowed for 10th
and 12th graders.

However, 54.3 percent of high school seniors, 47.3 percent of 10th graders
and 29.4 percent of 8th graders said they'd used an illicit drug at least
once. That underestimates teenage drug use, since dropouts are not
surveyed. Use of some drugs doubled or tripled in the '90s.

In his weekly radio message, Clinton declared the battle ``is far from
over,'' but he said the drug war could be won at the kitchen table. ``I
urge all parents to sit down with their children, as Hillary and I have
done, and share a simple and important lesson: Drugs are dangerous, drugs
are wrong, and drugs can kill you.''

Actually, simple lessons haven't been very effective. When adults lump all
drugs together as equally dangerous and ``wrong,'' they lose credibility
with children just when it's most needed. That's why federally funded drug
education all based on simplistic ``drugs are wrong'' messages works
fine for little kids, but doesn't affect drug use in middle school and high
school.

Drug use is cyclical, Johnston observes. During periods of high use, more
kids see firsthand the dangers and stay away from drugs. When use is low,
teens have little firsthand experience of the dangers, so curiosity wins
out and usage goes up.

In a California survey, teenagers expressed their cynicism about sermons,
and their interest in honest discussion. In lieu of making their own
mistakes, they wanted to hear from people with firsthand experience: Why
did you start? What was it like? What were the good parts? Why did you
decide to stop?

The right brand of Scotch equals success; the right vodka means you're
sophisticated. Cigarettes make you a jaded adult although possibly an
adult camel. Feel good fast with overthecounter, herbal or prescription
pills. Drugs are wrong.

It's tough growing up to be a responsible adult in this society, and kids
do need to talk to their parents. But they won't believe you when you say
you didn't inhale.