Engler Launches Aggressive New AntiDrug
Campaign

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ Governor John Engler
launched the statewide Partnership for a DrugFree Michigan campaign
on the steps of the Capitol today. The Partnership, an aggressive
public awareness campaign, is designed to warn every child, teen and
parent in Michigan about the dangers of drug use.

Joining the Governor to kickoff the new campaign were: James K.
Haveman Jr., director, Michigan Department of Community Health
(MDCH); Darnell Jackson, director, Michigan Office of Drug Control
Policy; Col. Michael D. Robinson, director, State Police; Thomas
Hedrickson, vicechairman, Partnership for a DrugFree America;
members of a PRIDE youth group and Brian Kirksey of Rochester Hills,
a teen rehabilitated after drug abuse.

Also participating were Detroit Red Wings players Darren McCarty and
Kris Draper and owners Mike and Marian Ilitch. The two hockey stars
expressed their support for the campaign and emphasized that children
and teens can be winners by staying away from drugs. The Red Wings
are partners in the new antidrug initiative.

"The goal of the DrugFree Michigan initiative is to help change
attitudes toward drugs," said Governor Engler. "Through this
comprehensive media campaign and other strategies, we can do much
more to prevent drug abuse among teens and children."

Drug use among teens and children continues to rise nationwide.
According to the Partnership, one of the primary reasons for this
trend is the acceptance of drugs as a fact of life and a belief that
drugs are not that dangerous. Poll after poll has shown that many
parents have come to accept that their children will sooner or later
experiment with drugs.

The 1996 preliminary results of the National Household Survey on
Drug Abuse, the latest national estimates available, continued to
show the significant use of illicit drugs among youths. In 1996, an
estimated 13 million Americans were current illicit drug users,
meaning they had used an illicit drug in the month before the
interview.

The survey showed that more teenagers were trying heroin for the
first time, that children's perception of cocaine as a dangerous drug
had decreased and that the use of some drugs, such as hallucinogens,
continued to rise.

These results are consistent with the results of nationwide school
surveys, which have shown statistically significant increases in drug
use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 1992 through 1995. In
addition, drugs are seen as easily accessible to young people.

"I am concerned about the number of young people who illegally use
drugs, " Engler said. "Our message to these children must be blunt:
'No use no excuse.'"

"Our strategy is to create a statewide blanket of publicprivate
partnerships. We have some great partners in this effort," said
Engler, "and their help is invaluable."

Partners in the Michigan campaign include the Detroit Red Wings, the
Partnership for a DrugFree America, MDCH, Michigan Chamber
Foundation, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Michigan Cable
Telecommunications Association, Michigan Press Association and law
enforcement agencies. SOURCE State of Michigan Office of the Governor

/CONTACT: John Truscott of the State of Michigan Office of the Governor,
5173356397/

[Copyright 1997, PR Newswire]