Bush touts progress in curbing youth drug use

President Bush on Tuesday praised the progress his administration has made in reducing drug use among America’s youth.

The White House announced that, since Bush set ambitious goals to curb drug use in 2002, illicit drug use fell approximately 24 percent. The sharpest drop recorded in the Monitoring the Future study was in the use of methamphetamine, which fell 64 percent.

{mosads}“The drug trade has enriched our society’s enemies,” Bush said. “It has funded acts of terror. It feeds an addiction that causes some Americans to turn to crime.”

The president touted his administration’s “tough and balanced” approach that seeks to prevent drugs from coming into the country but also focuses on prevention and treatment. Bush had invited the ambassadors of Colombia and Mexico to the event and praised the leaders of the country for taking the fight to drug traders.

The only blemish in the report, according to the president, is an increase in the abuse of some prescription painkillers.

Democrats criticized Bush for trying to reduce funding of the agency that put out the report.

“It’s sad that the president would choose this moment to propose a funding cut for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the agency that paid for the Monitoring the Future study and leads the federal government’s efforts on drug abuse research,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). “The 2008 funding bill that the president vetoed would have increased funding for NIDA by $24 million. Regrettably, while the president’s public statements laud the Institute’s results, his budget calls for a cut. His hypocrisy should not go overlooked.”

Bush also said that the fight against drugs is not won and that more work remains. He also challenged the role models of children to play their parts.

“It’s really important for professional sports associations to continue to crack down on drug abuse by athletes,” the president said, adding, “And it’s important that more people in Hollywood stand up and send a right message to our children.”