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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998 Contact: SAMHSA Press Office (301) 443-8956
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today launched a new
campaign to recruit caring adults to help children and young adolescents
in warding off the start of substance abuse. As the new "Your
Time - Their Future" campaign was launched, a study was
also released showing correlations between marijuana use and a
variety of serious adolescent problems.
"It is a simple but proven fact-young people
are much less likely to use drugs when they have something positive
to do, and when adults who care are involved in their lives,"
said Secretary Shalala. "This campaign emphasizes the need
for activities for our children-sports, the arts, reading, camping,
cooking and many others-that are not only fun and educational,
but help keep children alcohol, tobacco and drug free."
The "Your Time - Their Future" campaign
will be carried out by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration. It urges adults to become actively involved
in working with children, ages 7 to 14, to develop healthy and
useful skills and interests. The campaign encourages adults to
volunteer and devote more quality time with youngsters in need
of guidance and mentoring toward productive and rewarding lives.
Research has shown that such adult involvement can and does help
children and young adolescents to resist dangerous and illegal
use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.
As part of the campaign, SAMHSA is issuing a series
of print, radio and TV public service announcements. In addition,
the October issue of Reader's Digest is featuring a special supplement
on the campaign as a contribution to the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy's national anti-drug campaign.
A new SAMHSA study released today shows that marijuana
is harmful and linked with other damaging behaviors. An analysis
of Adolescent Self Reported Behaviors and Their Association with
Marijuana Use shows that adolescents age 12 to 17 who use marijuana
weekly are nine times more likely than non-users to experiment
with other illegal drugs and alcohol; six times more likely to
run away from home; five times more likely to steal; nearly four
times more likely to engage in violence; and three times more
likely to have thoughts about committing suicide.
SAMHSA's recently released National Household Survey
on Drug Abuse found that an increase in drug use among teens is
primarily in marijuana use. For young people age 12 to 17 the
survey found an increase in past-month marijuana use, from 7.1
percent in 1996 to 9.4 percent in 1997. However, the rate of past-month
marijuana use among youth remains significantly lower than its
peak of 14.2 percent in 1979.
"The reward for every caring adult who becomes
involved in the life of a child or youth is that you can see changes
in both lives for the better," said SAMHSA Administrator
Nelba Chavez, Ph.D. "We know that adult guidance and mentoring
can boost a youngster's confidence in school work and enhance
their ability to get along within the family and community. We
also know that preventing substance use among our children also
prevents related problems skipping school, stealing or engaging
in violence. An adult who spends some time with a youngster in
need can create a healthy, positive direction and offer alternatives
away from substance use."
The campaign was developed by the SAMHSA's Center
for Substance Abuse Prevention in partnership with the Big Brothers
and Big Sisters, the Points of Light Foundation, the National
Mentoring Partnership, and the National Prevention Network. These
organizations will provide information on local resources so
that adults can find out where and how to "get involved."
According to CSAP Director Karol Kumpfer, Ph.D., "The
variety of positive activities you can introduce is only as limited
as your imagination. This campaign is filled with compelling images
of parents, grandparents, and other caring adults of many ethnicities
and races spending time with children in a great variety of creative
and fun activities. It is more important than ever that youth
learn from caring adults the life skills, social competencies
and health attitudes that build resilience and help avoid substance
abuse."
Four information guides, a poster, a resource guide
and other products are also available. Free individual or bulk
quantities of these items can be ordered through SAMHSA's National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686.
Materials can also be accessed through the campaign web site at
<www.health.org>. Adults interested in volunteering and
mentoring can contact the clearinghouse at the above phone number
for referrals to programs in their areas.
A satellite feed of nine television service announcements
promoting the campaign will be available on Wednesday, Sept. 23,
from 3:30-4:00 p.m. ET (1530-1600 ET), C-Band, Galaxy 9 Transponder
2, audio 6.2/6.8. For more information, please contact 1-800-729-6686,
ext. 5371.
SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving
the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction
treatment and mental health services in the United States. The
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention is a component of SAMHSA.