ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 13, 1997 TAG: 9702130037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
Acknowledging that drug use among teens has doubled since 1992, the Clinton administration wants to use two youthful passions - television and driver's licenses - to help reverse that trend.
President Clinton, according to a draft of his 1997 drug strategy, wants to launch a $175 million national media campaign, using movie idols and superstar athletes to condemn illegal drug usage by young people.
It also calls for test programs that would require those seeking a driver's license to submit to drug screening.
``Drug testing, in conjunction with application for driver's licenses, will send the message that drugs and driving don't mix,'' the draft strategy says. ``The program will also identify youths who should be referred to drug assessment and treatment.''
In addition, the administration proposes:
* Increasing funding for treatment by $300 million, to $3.7 billion.
* $620 million - an increase of 11.5 percent - to promote safe and drug-free schools. The money would pay for drug- and violence-prevention programs.
* More than doubling the money available for drug courts, allocating $75 million to support court-mandated drug treatment and other services for nonviolent offenders.
Clinton is expected later this month to formally embrace the new national drug initiative, which would boost the nation's drug-fighting budget to nearly $16 billion - a 5.4 percent increase. The policy provides the details behind the budget request that the president sent to Congress last week.
In broad terms, it will codify what White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey has said should be a new emphasis on drug treatment and on encouraging the country's teen-agers to reject drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
``The metaphor of a `war on drugs' is misleading,'' the draft policy states. ``Wars are expected to end. Addressing drug abuse is a continuing challenge. The moment we believe ourselves to be victorious and free to relax our resolve, drug abuse will rise again."
Instead of a war, the administration says a better metaphor is that drug abuse is a lingering, deadly disease that must be attacked through prevention, education, treatment and compassion.
Since 1991, the administration says, there has been a 20 percent reduction in the number of public-service ads that decry drug abuse.
According to a survey by the Health and Human Services Department, the percentage of those between 12 and 17 who had used illicit drugs in the previous month increased from 5.3 percent in 1992 to 10.9 percent in 1995.
The administration wants anti-drug commercials - which increasingly have been relegated to low-viewership time slots - to be shown during prime-time. It is counting on corporate America and private contributions to augment the public program.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB