Paul Coverdell: “Let me continue, for the Nation to step forward with the powerful will to drive down teenage drug abuse by…”

“Let me continue, for the Nation to step forward with the powerful will to drive down teenage drug abuse by two-thirds--two-thirds--for those people who think this is a problem for which nothing can be done, I remind everyone listening that when the Nation decides to commit itself to resolving this drug epidemic, it can make headway. For example, in 1979, 14.1 percent were using it. By 1992, it had been driven down to 5.3 percent--2 million less youngsters were using drugs. But then something went wrong, something has gone badly wrong. Since 1992, drug abuse by this same class of teenagers has increased 135 percent. I repeat, 135 percent. What does that mean? That means that drug abuse has more than doubled since 1992. Drug abuse is now affecting 2 million teenagers. It has increased by over a million. This is a devastating indictment on contemporary drug policy in the United States. The Nation's will must be rejuvenated. This amendment will do that.”