Angie Craig: “Mr. President, according to PRIDE--those are the folks out there on the front line trying to stop kids from using…”

“Mr. President, according to PRIDE--those are the folks out there on the front line trying to stop kids from using drugs--senior high school use may have stalled, but it has stalled at the highest level PRIDE has measured in 10 years. Until we see sharp declines in the use at all grade levels there will be no reason to rejoice. With respect to young students, the survey found a full 11 percent of junior high students--that is grades 6 through 8--are monthly users of illegal drugs. Junior high students reported significant increases in monthly use of marijuana, cocaine, uppers, downers, hallucinogens, and heroin especially. Can you imagine that, Mr. President? We are talking about junior high kids. Heroin, drug of choice? Annual marijuana use has increased 153 percent since Mr. Clinton first took office. Cocaine use is up 88 percent. Why aren't we spending weeks on the floor of the Senate debating this, because it is the No. 1 issue amongst parents. The kids know it. They know their friends are being killed by it. They are laughing at the fact that they think we are going to legislate them away from tobacco. Hallucinogen use has increased 67 percent since Mr. Clinton took office. Now, in the face of this clear and present danger to our Nation's youth, how can this administration justify their obsession with tobacco?”