DRUG-USE SURVEY NOT ALL GOOD NEWS

The Dec. 16 release of this year's "Monitoring the Future" survey of teen
drug use was touted by officials as good news.

Although there was a slight decline in use during 2002, the real story this
survey tells is frightening: For the first time, as many teens are current
users of illegal drugs as smoke cigarettes.

And while cigarette use plunged in all age groups from 1991-2002, use of
marijuana and other illicit drugs rose sharply. Among eighth-graders, the
percentage using marijuana in the last month nearly tripled.

Teens also reported that the availability of cigarettes, which are sold by
regulated merchants, has gone down markedly in the last decade.
Availability of marijuana, which is completely unregulated, had gone up --
even though the number of marijuana arrests has more than doubled since 1991.

Our present policies are failing disastrously, and our kids are the victims.

Will the drug war ideologues setting federal policy ever pay attention?

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington