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Speech
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Asa
Hutchinson
Director
Drug Enforcement Administration
National Foundation for Women Legislators Press Conference
Washington, DC
May 23, 2002
(Note: The Director
often deviates from prepared remarks.)
- As I speak here
from the nation's capital, women legislators and DEA agents are joining
me at state capitals and communities in all 50 states to draw attention
to a serious problem of club drugs—drugs like Ecstasy, which are
fast becoming the number one drug problem facing our youth in the cities
of our nation. We're coming together to confront this issue in a bi-partisan
way.
- Today is an important
day in our fight against drugs. It's the first time the DEA has had
a national partnership of this scope. It's the first time the Women
Legislators have come together--not only among themselves--but with
law enforcement and prevention groups to tackle our nation's drug problem.
- It is a drug problem
international in scope. But it is an international problem with neighborhood
solutions.
- It's a partnership
that's needed because youth today are being misled by those who seek
to profit off of addiction and misery. Our kids are being told that
club drugs like Ecstasy are safe. But we know better. These drugs are
deadly. And we must work together to educate parents and youth about
the deadly danger of club drugs that casts a dark shadow over this summer's
activities.
- We face a very
real challenge. Between 1998 and 2001, Ecstasy use among teenagers nearly
doubled. It is feared that the number could double again in another
5 years.
- There are a number
of special concerns about club drugs:
- The profit
margin is enormous: cost to manufacture an Ecstasy tablet is about
25 cents. They sell retail for about $25.
- It comes
in pill form: easy to conceal, appears in form to be safer because
it looks like medicine.
- The supply
is creating the market. Youth are targeted, youth are told it is
safe. How wrong that is!
- The DEA is working
with our law enforcement partners across the country and internationally
taking apart Ecstasy trafficking organizations that supply this dangerous
drug to our communities. We're having success with that.
- But our fight
against drugs is more than a battle against traffickers. It's a battle
against misinformation--the kind that tells our youth that Ecstasy and
other club drugs are somehow safe. It's the perception that so long
as they drink enough water or take small amounts of Ecstasy, no harm
will come.
- That can be a
deadly distortion. Just two days ago, an 18-year-old California girl
died after taking Ecstasy at her senior prom. The girl had told her
sister she planned to take the drug. Her sister told her to be careful.
Would her sister have said to be careful if the girl was going to use
heroin or crack or methamphetamine? Probably not—her warning would
have been not to do those drugs. And that's the misperception with Ecstasy—that
it's different, safer, better than other illegal drugs.
- Today, we stand
together so that no teenager will ever stand alone when they face that
kind of misinformation. Our purpose is public awareness and a call for
public education and action. Today, we will begin arming our youth with
the facts. Like the fact that Ecstasy use can cause brain damage and
users can—and do—become dependent on the drug. Facts like
Ecstasy can heat your body up to temperatures as high as 105 to 117
degrees.
- We have joined
forces at a unique time in our history—when Americans are focused
on strengthening our country. After the September 11th attacks,
Americans came to understand as never before the kind of destruction
drug money funds. The consequences of drug abuse are far greater than
the individual or even the family or community.
- We have a new
opportunity to achieve success in the anti-drug effort. We at the DEA
are proud to partner with women legislators to make a lasting impact
on America's next generation. Thank you. ##
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