ANTI-DRUG BOSS URGES STUDENTS TO JOIN FIGHT

HARRISON: The nation's youth can play an important role in fighting illegal
drugs even as the nation spends billions of tax dollars in the effort, the
nation's chief anti-drug officer told Highlands High School students Wednesday.

"You want to be treated as adults. This is a way to show responsibility,"
said John Walters, who directs the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy.

"At a party, step up. Tell friends or siblings not to use drugs. And if
they are using them, tell them they need help and offer to help them get
that help," he said.

Walters was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R- Bradford Woods, who has
held several anti-drug meetings across her district. Hart is seeking
re-election Tuesday against Democrat Stevan Drobac.

Walters refuses to call himself the nation's drug czar, as his position is
commonly referred.

"We don't have czars in this country," he said. "People have fought and
died so we don't have that system."

During his talk, Walters returned again and again to the theme of civic
responsibility as the reason students should speak up about drugs and how
they can make a difference.

Drug addiction is a national problem fought at the local level day by day,
while the federal government tries to stop the smuggling of drugs such as
heroin and cocaine into the country.

"Don't look the other way," Walters said, before fielding a handful of
questions from estimated 900 students.

Asked by a female student if Ritalin should be pulled from the market
because the legal drug is being misused, Walters said no. Citizens should
have access to the medicine they need, he said.

Why, one student asked, is alcohol legal, but marijuana isn't? The question
was cheered by some students at a time when a few states are considering
lessening the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana, or for
medical use.

Alcohol is legal for adults, Walters said, adding that all alcoholics o
juveniles and adults o need treatment. He noted that alcohol is the cause
of many car crashes and it's often present during crimes.

At the same time, Walters said, 60 percent of the nation's 6 million drug
addicts are addicted to marijuana. There are estimates that 20 percent of
the drivers involved in accidents are impaired by marijuana and other
drugs, Walters said.

"It's a matter of responsibility," said Walters, who has directed the
office since December.

Walters said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks showed people risking
and giving their lives for other people.

"You may never walk into a burning building, or serve on the battlefield,
or defend someone as a law-enforcement officer," Walters said. "(But)
opposing drugs is a way to do something that benefits fellow citizens.
Otherwise, more and more families will be devastated by addicted loved ones
who often die," he said.

Walters said an estimated 16 million Americans use drugs and 6 million are
drug dependent.

About 25 percent of the nation's 6 million addicted people are youths, and
that's unprecedented, he said.

"And half of the 6 million deny they have a problem," he said.

"It usually begins with a lie from a peer, or from one of your classmates,
or possibly a sibling. 'It's fun. You can handle it.'

You realize it's a lie when its too late," he said.

In response to a question from another female student, Walters said
marijuana isn't harmless even though Ohio, Nevada and Arizona will conduct
votes this year to legalize it.

Marijuana causes drug dependency and it can lead to other drug use, he said.

"Instead of 16 million, how would you like to have 55 million addicted and
120 million using? That's what's wrong with legalization," he said.

After the assembly, Hart and Walters listened to comments and requests from
police and rehabilitation specialists and U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.

Walters said drug testing is the "single most effective thing" that can be
done locally, but he said each community must decide if it will take that step.

Walters' office has started conversations with Blue Cross and Blue Shield
about insurance coverage for addicts. Other conversations are planned
within the industry.

Walters also announced he will meet next week with officials of land grant
colleges and universities to urge them to enforce drug policies that each
must have in place to receive federal funding. Penn State is one such college.

"We want to ask for help first," he said. "Then we will seek enforcement."

Walters was impassioned during the talk because his boss, President George
W. Bush, is setting the standard.

"The president is making this a test of the effectiveness of his
administration," he said.

Bush has said he wants illegal drug use decreased by 10 percent in one year
and by 25 percent within five years.

"That's ambitious," Walters said, "but we can do it."