Presidential Influence on Teenage Drug Abuse :: Substance Abuse Essays

Presidential exercise and Teenage Drug Abuse. "Just dont do it", the slogan from Bob Doles anti-drug tug upon a cursoryevaluation, may appear to have been an inefficient sort of confronting the growing enigma of national drug abuse. After all, it is hardly presumable to believe that a potential drug user will specifically consider these words before deciding whether to get high or not.However, this slogan, and the man that stands behind it, represents a sorely needed, value-oriented stance on the field that was lacking in the Clinton administration. The presidents cavalier attitude was responsible for a melodramatic increase in drug abuse among teenagers. While Clintons baby boomer generation dismissed aggressive anti-drug campaigns as ineffectual, the truth is that tough approaches to the problem have proven to be very successful. The Nixon, Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations atomic number 18 direct examples of this. When Richard Nixon began his first term, use of marijuana and heroin had reached an all-time high. In response, he vowed to wage a national attack on narcotics abuse, which regard reducing the flow of drugs into the country while stepping up drug word programs. Nixon began his work by arranging for the extradition of noted heroin chemists, and sent ambassadors to carry on narcotics agreements with foreign countries. Turkey, which provided about 80 percent of the U.S. heroin supply promised a complete cessation of its production in exchange for $35.7 million in aid. On the national level, the Nixon administration further proved its dedication to the behave by legalizing the use of drugs to combat addiction and by encouraging anti-drug commercials and boob tube programs. Although many were doubtful that these measures would have any impact, they did help dramatically bring down drug abuse. In 1975, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that while the laurels of heroin had declined, the street price was four ti mes greater. The result was a marked decline in heroin abuse. Unfortunately, the Carter administration failed to continue the bustling anti-drug campaign. In fact, President Carter at one time advocated that marijuana self-command be legalized. It is little wonder that, in the absence of strong moral leadership, by 1979 half of all teenagers were experimenting with the drug. Fortunately, Reagan was elected at this crucial time, and was succeeded by George Bush Sr.. Both presidents strongly supported drug interdiction. Between the eld of 1979 and 1992, teenage drug abuse reduced by one-half.