I have never been more confident about the future of America's young people than I was last Monday morning. Sixty students from high schools throughout the Baltimore area accepted my invitation to teach America a lesson, sharing their insights about protecting our children from drugs.

Listening intently and taking notes at their drug prevention class were the nation's "Drug Czar," Barry R. McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy ("ONDCP"), and his key experts.

Key elected officials joining us for the conference included Baltimore City's Mayor-elect Martin O'Malley, Baltimore County's Executive C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy and Senator Clarence Mitchell, IV (D-44). Mr. John J. Oliver, Jr., publisher of the AFRO, and other important community leaders contributed their wisdom and support to our mission.

The latest evidence about drug prevention in America contains both good news and a chilling warning.

The good news is that the overwhelming majority of America's young people - including African American children - understand the value of remaining healthy, drug-free and in school. Most young people do not use drugs; and in 1998, drug use among American teenagers overall declined by 13%.

The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Use, however, also contains a chilling warning for minority communities. The decline in drug use among African American and Hispanic teenagers is less encouraging than what we are observing generally. Even more compelling, drug use among young adults of color actually increased in 1998.

In minority communities, the national Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is hard at work in a major effort to assure that young Americans and their parents understand the perils of drug use. Nearly two-thirds of America's youngsters report that the ads (viewed by 97% of all African American young people over 12 times each week) "made them stay away from drugs."

Parents, as well as community and government leaders, however, must better understand what works - and what is not working - in the nation's commitment to achieving a drug-free society. Listening to what our young people have to say about drugs is an important source of that better understanding.

For example, our 60 Baltimore students stressed the importance of parental involvement.

"Too many parents do not have a clue about what their children are feeling or the pressures they are experiencing to take drugs," the young people observed. "Media campaigns should give our parents a wake-up call. Parents should be encouraged to listen to us, talk with and not down to us, and help us cope with the stressful aspects of our lives in a healthy and drug-free way."

"Just say no," and similar messages of what we do not want our children to do should be clearly joined with positive direction and support.

"In my world," one young man told me, "support for the idea of staying strong and staying in school motivates me to resist the classmates who pressure me to do drugs with them. That support reminds me of the who I am and the successful person I want to become."

Schools, clubs, churches and community anti-drug coalitions like the one we are creating in Baltimore can best support our goal of a drug-free America by acting, as well as talking.

"Respect and engage us as intelligent people with the ability and desire to contribute," a young woman advised. "Include us in your activities and your lives."

At the drug prevention summit's closing session, ONDCP Director McCaffrey informed our teachers for the day that "the wisdom you have offered and confirmed in this face-to-face session will help to guide America's course toward a drug-free society."

These young people deserve our gratitude and respect. They have made a commitment to stay strong,

stay drug-free and stay in school. By the force of their commitment, they have become the true leaders of their generation.