Today, we are here once again to discuss the course of our nation’s drug policy. This hearing is not an academic debate, nor is it an opportunity to become engaged in a partisan political discussion. I am afraid to say that the stakes are far higher. Simply stated, if you take a look behind me, this is what our efforts are about--our children.

The number one priority facing this nation is the epidemic of youth drug abuse that continues to plague this country. Unfortunately, as the chart’s before you clearly reflect, our school yards continue to be swept up in a drug epidemic that continues to spiral out of control. Even more shocking, the children choosing to engage in illegal drug abuse are becoming younger and younger. Consider that, as the first chart to my right reflects, the number of children in grades 6 through 8 who use illegal drugs has gone from scarcely 1 in 10 to more than 1 in 5. Think about that for a moment because, what it tells us, is that within the next 10 years, unless something now is done to stop it, 1 or more of these children pictured behind me could well see their lives damaged or destroyed by drugs. As chart 2 reflects, the abuse rates are even more shocking when you examine specific drugs. For instance, under the Clinton Administration marijuana use by these same 6th to 8th graders has more than tripled.

Not to be outdone by their younger classmates, as chart 3 reflects, nearly 2 out of every 5 children in grades 9 through 12 have used illicit drugs. As charts 4 and 5 reflect, as these kids progress in their education, the likelihood that they will use illegal drugs gets even greater. Today, more than 4 out of every 10 high school seniors have used illegal drugs.

Let me state at the outset that I very much appreciate the efforts of our Drug Czar, Barry McCaffrey, in combating drug abuse throughout the world, and there can be no question that this Congress has worked very hard to support these efforts. Unfortunately General McCaffrey inherited a national drug policy in shambles. He has been forced to spend the last 2 years in office attempting to right the course of such fatally flawed policies, and the Congress has made every effort to support this endeavor. That said, the Congress cannot stand alone in this support. This problem requires the unwavering support of the President. Somehow, this Administration must learn that simply throwing money at a problem will not make it go away. Strong presidential leadership and a commitment to proven drug control policies must be implemented without any further delay.

The Clinton Administration has presided over this youth drug plague, offering little more than proposals for big spending programs, and promises of accountability at some time in the distant future. What the Administration has chosen to ignore is its accountability to the American people for these unproven drug policies. The Bush Administration adhered to federal requirements by providing 2 year measurable objectives, from which the entire nation could evaluate the effectiveness of its chosen drug strategy. To date, the Clinton Administration has chosen to also ignore its statutory responsibility to establish such short term measurable objectives from which the effectiveness of its drug policies can be evaluated. This, despite 5 years of requests from the Congress that the Administration simply abide by the law and establish these hard targets.

Over the last 2 years the cover used by the Administration for its failure to establish such measurable objectives is the assertion that it is in the process of developing a “performance measurement system” with which to gauge the success of the National Drug Control Strategy and its underlying programs. The good news is that the Congress has finally been provided with a first attempt at such a system as a component of the 1998 National Drug Strategy. The bad news is that this system does not require that any measurable objectives be met until the year 2002. That’s too long a time to wait. Today’s children cannot afford to wait.

The cornerstone of the successful drug strategies of the 1980's and early 1990's was the aggressive assault upon what is typically referred to as the “supply side” of the national and international drug market. The success of these programs was predicated upon an understanding that the most effective way to stem rampant drug use was to bring the most powerful resources available to bear in a coordinated single minded effort. Previous administration’s recognized that education and treatment programs were of little value unless a strong criminal deterrence underscored such programs. Unfortunately, a crucial component of the Bush Administration’s highly successful drug strategy, interdiction, was largely abandoned by the Clinton Administration during his first 4 years in office. The results have been tragic, with youth drug use spinning completely out of control.

This drug strategy, as it has done for the last several years, identifies prevention and treatment as its focus of main effort. We know that this focus has not worked to stem youth drug abuse over the last 5 years. Drugs have proliferated our school yards and drug abuse once again enjoys wide social acceptance among youth in this country. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and even heroin, which once held a taboo for all but the most hard core drug abusers, are now easy to get, they are often cheap, and in many instances their purity is greater than ever.

In closing, let me reiterate the true exigency of this drug problem. The time for planning, proposing, and evaluating is over. The time for action has arrived. Our children are worth nothing less.

I am pleased to have before us today a gentleman who I have a great deal of respect for, and have enjoyed working with over the last 2 years. I am referring, of course to General Barry McCaffrey, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.