Dec 22, 2003 2 min read

If victory is ever to be declared in the decades-long war on drugs, it will come through a decline of youth enlisting in the corps of users. While the battle is far from over, good news was reported this week. A national government survey has shown a significant decline of drug use by 8th-, 10th- and 12th-grade students over the past two years. About 400,000 fewer kids are seeking illegal highs. In the plus column: Use of LSD and ecstasy has plummeted. Marijuana use is on the decline, as are amphetamines, alcohol, inhalants and cigarettes.

In the minus column: Rates of cocaine and heroin use remain unchanged in two years. While usage is still below the peak levels of the late 1990s, these highly addictive, and sometimes fatal, drugs are still pervasive in our society.

The successes are attributable to tough anti-drug messages targeted to youth. John P. Walters, the director of the National Drug Control Policy, said, “This survey shows that when we push back against the drug problem, it gets smaller. Fewer teens are using drugs because of the deliberate and serious messages they have received about the dangers of drugs from their parents, leaders and prevention efforts like our National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Having fewer youths use drugs is important because we know that if young people can abstain from drugs before they graduate from high school, they are much less likely to use and have problems with them later.”

Walters and his legion of soldiers need to continue the good fight to keep kids from turning into the next generation of addicts. If that battle front is ever won, victory will be in hand.