Tobacco Surveys

SEP-20-1999 17:25 SAMHSA 301 443 0284 P.02/02 FYI PRESIDENT STATE DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY Washington, D.C. 20503 FOR RELEASE: SEPT. 20, 1999 Contact: Bob Weiner (202) 595-6618 WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR McCAFFREY ASSERTS PENDING DRUG TOBACCO TREATMENT FUNDING PENALTIES ON STATES AS YOUTH-TOBACCO Synar PUNISHMENT IS ILLOGICAL, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE; COULD CLOSE DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS AND GENERATE MORE CRIME (Washington, DC)- White House Director of National Drug Control Policy Barry R McCaffrey today criticized the mandatory penalties under current law required by the Synar Amendment, which cuts Federal drug treatment grants in states that fail to make sufficient progress in reducing the sale of tobacco products to minors. Seven states plus the District of Colombia have been notified by HHS that they are in non-compliance and could face cuts. "The National Drug Control Strategy calls for increasing the availability of drug treatment services- and reducing by half the "treatment gap" - over the next decade. These mandatory penalties would require the Department of Health and Human Services to cut by 40 percent several states' federal funding for drug treatment and prevention programs for young people. This makes no sense, and will impair the ability of states to treat the nation's 4.1 million chronically addicted." "This is an illogical action, mandated by current law. This law needs to be reviewed and changed. Some drug treatment centers may close. Some heroin addicts might be forced back on the streets to return to a criminal life. We agree that the carrot-and-stick approach of the law can serve a purpose of pushing compliance with youth tobacco reduction objectives, but we must not throw the baby out with the bath water by increasing drug addiction and crime." "We join Secretary Shalala's support for the goals of the Synar Amendment, to encourage states to enact and enforce effective laws and programs that restrict the sale of tobacco products to young people. Goal One of the Strategy calls for educating and enabling America's youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco. Research shows clearly that the use of tobacco by youth is closely associated with, and often precedes, the use of other dangerous substances, including illegal drugs. However, penalties that reduce Federal support for drug treatment are counterproductive. We would welcome a discussion with the Congress about the appropriateness of these penalties, with 8 goal of reducing the impact of both adolescent smoking and substance abuse on all our citizens." Jurisdictions who received the notice are Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota. Iowa, Missouri, Wyoming, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. - 30 (synar 9-20-99)