ORIGINAL

HEALTH EDUCATION AND A VALUE SYSTEM

BY

C, EVERETT KOOP, IAD

SURGEON GENERAL

      AND

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH

KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE CONFERENCE ON ADOLESCENT HEALTH

SPONSORED BY THE FJATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

  AND THE MARCH OF DIMES BIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATION

            SOUTH BEND, INDIANA

              JUNE 19, 1983


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'(GREETINGS TO HOSTS, GUESTS)

THIS IS INDEED A GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO COME HERE THIS EVENING,
BEARING THE BEST WISHES OF YOUR CONSTANT FRIEND OF MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, THE HONORABLE MARGARET M, HECKLER, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. YOU HAVE KNOWN HER OVER THE YEARS SHE
SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.  NOW WE ALL KNOW HER AS A MEMBER
OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, GUIDING THE AFFAIRS OF ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT AGENCIES OF OUR GOVERNMENT,

  I ALSO BRING YOU THE GOOD WISHES OF A PRESIDENT AND AN ADMINISTRA-
TION THAT SHARE WITH YOU THE DEEP AND ABIDING CONCERN THAT WE RAISE
EVERY GENERATION OF AMERICANS SO THAT THEY CAN USE TO THE FULLEST THEIR
POWERS TO THINKmTHEIR POWERS TO FEELmAND THEIR POWERS TO BELIEVE.

  I ADMIRE YOUR COMMITMENT -- AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS AN ORGANIZATION
-- TO THIS TRIPLE, OR "TRINITARIAN," CONCERN FOR THE MIND, THE
EMOTIONS, AND THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL ADMIT THAT I DO NOT ENVY YOUR
DAY-TO-DAY EFFORTS TO SHOW YOUR CONCERN WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR
CHARGE, BY COMPARISON, THE CONTROLLED, PRECISE ROUTINES IN SURGERY ARE
EASIER TO ACCOMPLISH,


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  ALSO, MY PATIENTS WERE ALWAYS ANESTHETIZED, I'M SURE THAT, NOW
AND THEN, SOME OF YOU PROBABLY WISH YOU COULD USE A DROP OR TWO OF
ANESTHESIA IN THE CLASSROOM, TOO,  SELECTIVELY, OF COURSE, BUT YOU
CAN'T...AND YOU DON'T,.,AND SO I BOW TO YOUR LEADERSHIP,

THIS EVENING, HOWEVER, I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOME HARD THINKING --

TOGETHER -- ON WHY WE MAY NOT HAVE SHOUN THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE EXPECTED OF US AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. AND WHEN I SAY

"US, II I MEAN THOSE OF US IN MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE AND THOSE OF YOU

IN EDUCATION.  FOR MUCH TOO LONG A TIME, I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN LEADING
OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN DOWN TWO BEWILDERING AND POTENTIALLY

HARMFUL TRACKS:

THE FIRST TRACK IS THAT OF INTRODUCING YOUNG PEOPLE TOO QUICKLY,
TOO EARLY, AND TOO CASUALLY INTO THE COMPLEX WORLD OF ADULT LIFE,. .

AND THE SECOND TRACK HAS BEEN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE
ARISEN BY TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THEM, RATHER THAN ANTICIPATE AND
PREPARE FOR THEM.


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  1 SUPPOSE YOU COULD APPLY THAT CRITICISM TO MANY ASPECTS OF CHILD-

RAISING, BUT I THINK THEY ARE ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CARE

A30UT THE HEALTH AND THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,

  NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, THIS COUNTRY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS AND

TRIED TO STRENGTHEN THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE IMMEDIATE REASON, YOU MAY RECALL, WAS THE RUSSIAN LAUNCHING ON

OCTO3ER 4, 1957, OF "SPUTNIK," THE FIRST MAN-MADE OBJECT SENT INTO

SPACE,  FOR THE NEXT TWO DECADES AT LEAST, WE GENERATED WITHIN THE

MINDS OF A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE THE IDEA THAT SCIENCE -- BY

ITSELF -- COULD COME WITH THE ANSWERS FOR VIRTUALLY ANY OF MANKIND'S

PROBLEMS.

  TO /dE, IT IS NO COINCIDEXE THAT THE GROWTH OF AMERICAN SCIENCE

WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A PARALLEL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS,

ONE THAT 3ECAME KNOWN BY THE SIMPLE AND REPUGNANT SENTENCE, "GOD IS

DEAD."  IN EFFECT, WE HAD PROMOTED KNOWLEDGE AND NEGLECTED BELIEF,

THE RESULT WAS A TERRIBLE PERIOD OF CONFUSION AND DESPAIR FOR MANY OF

OUR PEOPLE, ALL OUR IMPORTANT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS --

INCLUDING OUR SCHOOLS -- HAD MOVED QUICKLY FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY

CONSIDERED TO BE THE PATRIOTIC MESSAGE OF THE 60s: "GO FORTH AND LEARN

MORE , "


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  AND IT lJAS PATRIOTIC ,, ,IT DID STRENGTHEN THE ROLE 0F SCIENCE IN

THIS COUNTRY . , 'AND THAT CJAS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.  BUT IT WAS ONLY
PART OF THE JOB, THOSE OTHER TWO ELEMENTS WERE NEGLECTED, "LEARN

MORE" , ..ALL RIGHT, I ACCEPT THAT, BUT WHAT ABOUT 'CARE MORE" AND

'BELIEVE MORE'? SOMEHOW, THEY WERE PUSHED ASIDE, AND IN-THE HEARTS

OF MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GREW up IN THE 6oS AND EARLY 70~ m AFRAID
THAT 'GOD WAS PRESUMED TO 3E DEAD,'

  WE ARE NOCJ IN THE PROCESS OF CONTROLLING AND REPAIRING THAT DAMAGE.

WE ARE NOW TELLING OUR Your~G PEOPLE THAT SCIENCE CAN ONLY GO so FAR --

AND No FURTHER,  TO GO THAT EXTRA DISTANCE' THE DISTANCE THAT IS

UPLIFTING AND LIBERATING AND THAT MARKS TRUE PERSONAL EXCELLENCE, YOU

HAVE TO CALL UPON A VALUE SYSTEM -- ONE THAT RECOGNIZES RIGHT FROM

WRONG -- ONE THAT EVEN SMACKS OF ABSOLUTES' AS UNPOPULAR AS THAT TERM

MAY BE TO SOME PEOPLE TODAY, FOR INSTANCE.. ,

0

     WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF A SMOKER'S CHANCES OF CONTRACTING ONE

OF SEVERAL KINDS OF SMOKING-RELATED CANCERS. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO

KNOW THE TERRIBLE ODDS THEY ARE UP AGAINST, IF THEY START TO SMOKE OR

IF THEY CONTINUE TO SMOKE. AT THE SAME TIME' THEY NEED TO HOLD ALL

LIFE -- INCLUDING THEIR OWN -- IN A\dE AND REVERENCE. WE DON'T WANT


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THEM TO GAMBLE ON THE OUTCOMES' TO "PLAY THE PERCENTAGES": WE WANT

YOUfiG PEOPLE TO DECIDE UNEQUIVOCALLY TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE AND
PRIMARILY FOR THAT REASON NOT TO SMOKE.

  BUT YOU NEVER KPIOW,  JUST LAST \JEEK I WAS IN ALBUQUERkJE AND A

YOUfiG PlAN CAflE UP TO ME AfdD SAID, "OH SURE, I SflOKE. BUT BY THE TI/`.lE I

GET CANCER FROM SMOKING, THEY'LL FIND A CURE FOR IT," HE WORE A BIG

SMILE, BUT WHAT A SAD REMARK THAT WAS! FOR THAT YOUNG MAN, MODERN

SCIENCE OFFERED LITTLE MORE THAfJ A WAY OF HEDGIfiG A BET IN A DEADLY

GAflBLE' WITH HIS OWN LIFE.

0

     MY MEXT EXAMPLE INVOLVES Af4OTHER SET OF VALUES. AS YOU KNOW,

THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN CARRYING ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO

IflMUf1IZE 95 PERCENT OF ALL SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AGAINST THE 7 LEADING

INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD,  IT'S AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT: THERE

WERE ONLY 7 CASES OF POLIO REPORTED LAST YEAR, WE'RE NOW DEALING 1JITH

MEASLES PRIMARILY AS ISOLATED OUTBREAKS, IT'S NOT THE MAJOR NATIONAL

THREAT IT ONCE WAS, MUMPS IS WAY DOWf4...SO IS GERMAN MEASLES. AS A

RESULT, WE'VE CONVINCED AMERICAN PAREftTS AND CHILDREN THAT VACCINES

CAN PREVENT DISEASE.  Af4D THERE'S PROBABLY A VACCINE TO CURE JUST

ABOUT EVERYTHING,


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  SO IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE NEWS OUT OF EMGLAND THIS PAST WEEK

CAUSED SUCH A STIR,  SOME RESEARCHERS THERE SAY THEY'VE COPlE UP W1TH.A

VACCINE AGAINST GENITAL HERPES.  I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR
WORK, BUT THAT'S REALLY BESIDE THE POIFIT. THE FACT IS THAT OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FLOODING TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARDS TO FIND OUT IF THE

NEWS IS TRUE,

  BUT YOU AND I KNOW THAT NO VACCINE WILL EVER PROTECT A PERSOft FROM
THE CONSEQUENCES OF FREQUENT, CASUAL, UN-CARING SEX, SCIENCE CAN ONLY
PROVIDE A PART OF THE ANSWER, THE OTHER PART IS IfiSIDE THE HEART OF
THE INDIVIDUAL, IN THAT SYSTEM OF VALUES THAT DICTATES ONE'S OWN BEHAV-

IOR AND PROVIDES ITS owr~ REWARD.

     0   Af1D ONE LAST EXAFIPLE,  WE HAVE MADE EXCEPTIONAL PROGRESS IN
THE PAST 20 YEARS DEVELOPING NEW flEDICINES AND NEW KIfiDS OF PSYCHO-
THERAPY TO HELP PAREfjTS AND CHILDREN COPE WITH THE MANIFOLD PRESSURES
BEARING IN UPON THE AMERICAN FAMILY, WE HAVE SAID, IN EFFECT, THAT
THE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY LIFE IS UNDERSTANDABLE, MANAGEABLE, SOf.lETIf~lES

EVEN REPARABLE OR "CURABLE,"  FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, THEREFORE, FA?lILY
HEALTH IS TREATABLE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ILLNESS. SO, AS THE KIDS

THEMSELVES SAY, "WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?"


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  "FAWILY HEALTH" MAY BE MY THIRD EXAMPLE, BUT, IN ANY LIST OF

PRIORITIES WHETHER FOR EDUCATION OR FOR MEDICINE, IT MUST RANK AS

FIRST.  OUR NATION CAN ONLY BE AS STRONG AS THE PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL,

EflOTIOf1AL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF OUR AflERICAN FAMILIES, THAT IS

CERTAINLY THE FOUfJDATION UPON WHICH VIRTUALLY ALL OUR PUBLIC HEALTH

CONCEPTS ARE BASED.  I KNOW IT IS THE SAflE FOR EDUCATION AS WELL.

  If4 THIS RESPECT, I AGREE WITH THE WORDS 0F POPE JOHN PAUL II, IN

HIS flESSAGE "REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY If4 THE MODERN

WORLD."  THE POPE SAID, IN HIS flESSAGE OF f1OVEflBER 1381.. ,

"THE RIGHT AfiD DUTY OF PARENTS TO GIVE EDUCATION IS ESSEfjTIAL,

SINCE IT IS CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF HUMAN LIFE: IT IS

ORIGINAL AND PRIMARY WITH REGARD TO THE EDUCATIONAL ROLE OF OTHERS,

ON ACCOUNT OF THE UNIQUENESS OF THE LOVIfjG RELATIONSHP BETWEEN

PAREfJTS AfJD CHILDREN: AND IT IS IRREPLACEABLE AND INALIENABLE, AND

THEREFORE INCAPABLE OF BEIfiG ENTIRELY DELEGATED TO OTHERS OR

USURPED BY OTHERS,"


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  THOSE WORDS ARE JUST AS TRUE TODAY.  IN THAT SAME MESSAGE, AS YOU

KflOWt POPE JOHN PAUL II ALSO SPOKE OF "EDUCATION IN LOVE AS SELF-

GIVING," WHICH HE TERflED "THE IMDISPENSABLE PREMISE FOR PARENTS CALLED

TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A CLEAR AND DELICATE SEX EDUCATION,"

  TO HELP PARENTS ACCOMPLISH THAT SENSITIVE TASK, 1JE NEED TO WORK

CLOSELY AND COMPASSIONATELY WITH THEM. ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT

CHALLENGES -- IN HEALTH AND IN EDUCATION -- IS TO TEACH PARENTS TO

TEACH.  I BELIEVE WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCEED ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT

PARENTS THEMSELVES SUCCEED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR OWf1 FAMILIES.

  AFTER ALL THE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY LESSONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN --

HOldEVER EXPERTLY THEY ARE DELIVERED AfdD WITH \lHATEVER NEW IfIFORf~1ATION

-- WE ARE NEVERTHELESS FORCED TO ADMIT THAT,.,

THERE IS STILL NO VACCINE TO PROTECT ONE'S OWN PERSON FROM BEING

ABUSED BY ANOTHER.,.

THERE IS STILL fJ0 MEDICATIOfi TO PREVENT ONE'S FEELINGS FROM BEING

TREATED WITH CONTEMPT BY AfJ0THER.s.

Af4D WE HAVE YET TO DISCOVER A THERAPY THAT PROTECTS HUMAN LOVE

FROM BEING TRIVIALIZED,


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  WE NEED -- AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DELIVER -- BETTER HEALTH
EDUCATION THAN WAS POSSIBLE IN FORMER YEARS. WE KNOW MORE, WE CAN DO
MORE, BUT WITHOUT A SYSTEM OF HUMAN VALUES TO GO WITH IT, IT'S LIKE
BUILDING HALF A HOUSE: IT DOESN'T WORK AND IT WON'T STAND UP.

  BY THE WAY, LEST THERE BE ANY MISTAKE ABOUT IT, LET ME SAY RIGHT
HERE THAT I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF A HEALTH EDUCATION

PROGRAM BASED UPON DECENT HUMAN VALUES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSITIVE
SIGNS AfiD SIGNALS COMING FROM YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY AND I THINK WE NEED TO

RECOGNIZE THEM AND RESPECT THEM FOR THE GREAT POTENTIAL THEY SEEfl TO

OFFER,

LET ME FIRST DESCRIBE WHAT WE DETECT IN THE AREA OF DRUG ABUSE.

  EACH YEAR THE f4ATIOfiAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE HAS A SURVEY MADE OF THE EXTENT OF DRUG USAGE AMONG YOUNG

PEOPLE,  AS A RESULT, THE INSTITUTE HAS BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS A
CERTAIfJ DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY TO SHIFTS HERE AND THERE. AND LATELY

WE'VE BEGUN TO DETECT A CONTIfJUIf~G. STEADY, ALBEIT GRADUAL, DECLINE IN
DRUG USAGE AMONG YOUf-IG PEOPLE, THIS IS THE CONCLUSION FROM THE LATEST

SURVEY CF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS DONE FOR US BY THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL
RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN,


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  ACCORDING TO THIS SURVEY, HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS "ARE CONTINUING TO

GRADUALLY MODERATE THEIR USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS." THE USE OF MARIJUANA,
FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN DECLINING SINCE 1979. THE LATEST SURVEY SHOWS

THAT ABOUT 6 PERCENT OF LAST YEAR'S HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS -- OR AROUND

180,000 YOUNGSTERS -- USED MAR1 JUANA EVERY DAY. THIS WAS-DOWN FROM

THE 11 PERCENT LEVEL OF 1978,

  THE NET RESULT, THEN, Is THAT LAST YEAR ABOUT HALF THE NUMBER OF

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS USED MARIJUANA, COMPARED TO THE YEAR 1978, THAT

IS A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN DRUG USAGE.

  PlARIJUANA IS THE flOST WIDELY USED OF THE ILLICIT DRUGS, BUT
Uf4FORTUNATELY IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE. YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO EXPERIMENT WITH

-- AND BECOME ADDICTED TO -- STIMULANTS, SEDATIVES, AND COCAINE.

NEVERTHELESS, THERE \JERE DECLINES If1 USAGE AMONG THESE DRUGS AS WELL,

  THE STORY IN COCAIfiE IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING. THE DRUG HAS BEEN

GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLICITY AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH SO MANY

PEOPLE IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMEfjT, MEN AND WOMEN WHO COULD BE CON-

SIDERED AS IDOLS OR "ROLE MODELS" FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND, INDEED,

COCAINE USAGE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS DOUBLED BETWEEN 1975 AND 1979,
LEVELLED OFF FRCM 1979 TO 1981, AND FINALLY TURNED DOWNWARD IN 1982,


  ONLY HEROIN AND THE AMYL AND BUTYL NITRITE INHALANTS SEEMED TO SHOW

NEITHER A RISE NOR A DECLINE IN USAGE IN 1982, FOLLOWING A STEADY DE-

CLINE IN USAGE FOR THE PRECEDING THREE YEARS,

  SOMETHING IS GOING ON. AND WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S IMPORTANT, I

ASKED OUR EXPERTS AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE AND CAME

AWAY WITH THESE CONCLUSIONS:

0

   FIRST, AROUND 1978, CIHICH SEEMS TO BE A HIGH POINT IN DRUG

USAGE, THIS COUNTRY BACKED AWAY FROM THE NOTION OF DE-CRIMINALIZING

ANY ILLICIT DRUG USE.  OUR SOCIAL POLICY IS NO\i QUITE CLEAR AND

CONSISTENT AT NATIONAL, STATE, AND COMMUNITY LEVELS, SELLING OR

USING ILLEGAL DRUGS IS A CRIME -- PERIOD. THERE HAD BEEN SOME

AMBIVALENCE DURING THE 60s AND EARLY 70s. BUT THE COUNTRY FINALLY

SETTLED ON A CLEAR POLICY OF HOLDING TO CRKlINAL PENALTIES FOR

ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING AND DRUG USAGE.

0

   SECOND, I BELIEVE THAT THE NATION, THE STATES, OUR LOCAL

COMMUNITIES, AND PARENTS HAVE FINALLY PUT TOGETHER A COHERENT

ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE THAT TALKS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE REAL, MEASURABLE

RISKS OF DRUGS FOR THE BODY AND MIND OF THE DRUG USER, BUT ALSO


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ABOUT THE IMMEASURABLE PERSONAL RISKS,..THE REAL LOSS OF FRIEND-

SHIP, RESPECT, AND LOVE,  IN OTHER WORDS, DRUG USAGE MAKES A
PERSON SO MUCH LESS HUMAN AND, HENCE, SO MUCH LESS ATTRACTIVE AND

WORTHY OF AFFECTION,  THAT IS A TRUE RISKmKIDS KNOW IT'S TRUE,,,

AND THEY ALSO KNOW THAT, FOR THEM AT THEIR AGE, SUCH A LOSS CAN BE

DEVASTATING.

0   AND THIRD, WITH THE FADING OF DE-CRIMINALIZATION AND WITH THE

SHARPENED PERCEPTIONS OF THE DANGERS OF DRUG USAGE, PARENTS HAVE

GONE ON THE OFFENSIVE.  THEY ARE Now ORGANIZED INTO A ~IIDESPREAD,

EFFECTIVE, GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO FIGHT DRUGS AND THEY HAVE NO

HESITATION TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN

THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FROM EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. PAST

FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS HAVE PRETTY MUCH FADED AWAY,

I MIGHT ADD THAT LAST OCTOBER I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING THE
FIRST LADY, MRS. RONALD REAGAN, AT THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE SPON-
SORED BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARENTS FOR DRUG-FREE YOUTH,
PARENTS REPRESENTING GROUPS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WERE THERE.
THEY FELT THEY WERE RIGHT AND THEY FELT THEY WERE STRONG, AND I
CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THEY WERE -- AND ARE.


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1 BELIEVE THIS NEW POSTURE BY PAREfJTS HAS HAD AN IMPORTANT EFFECT

UPON CHILDREN,  AT LEAST, THAT IS HOW I WOULD EXPLAIN THE ANSWERS

GIVEN IN A SEPARATE PART OF THE MIGHIGAN SURVEY. IN THAT PART,

LAST YEAR'S SENIORS WERE QUIZZED ON THEIR PARENTS' ATTITUDES ABOUT
DRUG-TAKING, THE ANSWERS INDICATED THERE \JAS VERY LITTLE AMBI-

VALENCE AT HOME: BETWEEN 92 AND 97 PERCENT OF THE SENIORS SAID

THEIR PARENTS WOULD DISAPPROVE OR "STRONGLY DISAPPROVE" OF THE USE

OF MARIJUANA, THE ATTITUDE WAS THE SAME FOR MANY OF THE SO-CALLED

"HARD DRUGS," TOO, I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE

STRONG, CONSISTENT ALLIES IN MOST AMERICAN HOMES, WHEN THE BATTLE

TURNS TO THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS.

  PROBABLY OF MORE SIGNIFICANCE IS THE DATA ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE

ATTITUDES OF PEERS CAN BE UPON THE POTENTIAL DRUG USER, WHILE THE

PERCENTAGES ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THOSE FOR PARENTS, I WAS STILL VERY

HEARTENED TO SEE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS -- 3

OUT OF EVERY 4 -- SAID THEY THOUGHT THEIR FRIENDS WOULD DISAPPROVE IF

THEY SNOKED MARIJUANA EVERY DAY, BETTER THAN HALF THOUGH FRIENDS

WOULD DISAPPROVE OF OCCASIONAL MARIJUANA USAGE, AND 5 OUT OF EVERY 10

THOUGHT THEIR FRIENDS WOULD EVEN DISAPPROVE OF EXPERIMENTING WITH

MARIJUANA,


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  IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE OF US IN THE PROFESSIONS OF HEALTH AND

EDUCATION HAVE ALLIES NOT ONLY AMONG THE PARENTS OF OUR STUDENTS BUT

AMONG THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.

  I HAVE NOT TRIED TO PUT TOO GOOD A FACE ON ANY OF THE-FACTS I'VE

LAID BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE WE CAN BE MUCH

MORE HOPEFUL TODAY THAN WE WERE A DECADE AGO, BUT THE FACT REMAINS --

AND WE MUST NEVER FORGET IT -- THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE

OF DRUG USAGE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OF ANY COUNTRY OF THE WEST OR, FOR

THAT MATTER, OF THE WORLD.

  SO FAR IN THIS TALK, I'VE BEEN USING FIGURES FROM A SURVEY OF

SENIORS, BY THEN, LATE IN HIGH SCHOOL, MOST YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED

FROM THEIR ELDERS -- USUALLY BY OUR OWN DREADFUL EXAMPLES -- HOW TO

EQUIVOCATE, "WAFFLE," CLARIFY, MODERATE, AND QUALIFY, SO I WOULD TEND

TO SAY THAT WE MIGHT BE EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL FINDING ALLIES AMONG

YOUNGER STUDENTS.,.THOSE IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH

GRADES.  IT'S A MUCH MORE EXPLOSIVELY CANDID TIME OF LIFE, THE SUBTLE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "DISAPPROVE" AND "STRONGLY DISAPPROVE" Is LOST 0N

MOST 8TH GRADERS. AND I SAY, "HURRAY FOR THEM,"


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  OUR DRUG ABUSE STAFFS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR

SOME TIME NOW AND NOT TOO LONG AGO THEY PUBLISHED A TEACHING GUIDE WITH

A TITLE WORTHY OF THE JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS IT IS MEANT TO SERVE, THE

TITLE IS "SAYING NO,"  THE IDEA BEHIND THE PUBLICATION IS THAT WE NEED

TO SPEND MORE TIME STRENGTHENING THE INHERENT DECENCY AND-COMMON SENSE

WE FIND IN OUR PRE-TEENS AND EARLY TEENAGERS.

  I CJANT TO QUOTE A COUPLE OF SENTENCES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS

PU3LICATION BECAUSE I THINK THEY BEAR REPETITION:

"TEACHERS ~0 NOT NEED TO BECOME 'EXPERTS' 0N DRUGS TO DO EFFECTIVE

DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION IN THE CLASSROOM."   ALSO.,,

"AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AT THE JUNIOR

HIGH LEVEL IS TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND AND SAY 'NO' TO

PRESSURES FROM THEIR PEERS,"

  THAT FIRST SENTENCE -- THE ONE ABOUT NOT NEEDING TO BE AN EXPERT

ON DRUGS -- IS A REFLECTION, I THINK, OF THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED

ABOUT RELYING TOTALLY AND FOOLISHLY ON THE WEIGHT OF SCIENCE ALONE TO


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CARRY AN IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGE TO OUR CHILDREN. WE KNOW NOW THAT

GOOD SCIENCE -- SOLID INFORMATION -- IS ONLY PART OF OUR MESSAGE,,,~
jlLJ OF IT.

THE SECOND SENTENCE TELLS US THAT STUDENTS -- LIKE ADULTS -- REALLY
DO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.  SOMETIMES THE LESSON IS POSITIVE, SOMETIMES
IT IS NOT, OUR JOB AS EFFECTIVE TEACHERS AND HEALTH EDUCATORS IS TO
HELP STIFFEN THE CHILD'S BACKBONE A LITTLE BIT, WHEN HE 0R SHE IS coN-
FRONTED BY NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURES.  CONVERSELY, WE SHOULD DO \JHAT WE
CAN TO HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP POSITIVE PEER PRESSURES AMONG THEMSELVES
,,,TO SET HIGH VALUES ON SHARING THE GOOD STUFF THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER
US AND OUR FRIENDS.

  DURING THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ITSELF HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE BY YOUNG PEOPLE OF T\/O OTHER DRUGS: ALCOHOL AND
CIGARETTES, THEY ARE NOT ILLICIT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE LA\6 AND LOCAL
ORDNANCES GOVERNING THEIR SALE TO YOUNG PEOPLE, THE VERY FACT THAT
THESE DRUGS ARE LEGALLY AVAILABLE COMPLICATES THE PROBLEM 0F cowINcING
YOUNG PEOPLE OF THEIR HARM,


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  FOR THIS REASON, WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE POTEFITIAL ROLE THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE THEMSELVES COULD PLAY IN THE FIGHT TO REDUCE AND EVEN ELIMINATE
SMOKING AND DRINKING AMONG AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE,

  FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT THESE T'JO DRUGS DO PRESENT VERY
SPECIAL, WIDESPREAD, AND STUBBORN PROBLEMS FOR US ALL, ONCE AGAIU,
ACCORDING TO THE MICHIGAN SURVEY, IT APPEARS THAT AT LEAST 93 PERCENT
OF LAST YEAR'S HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HAD AT LEAST TRIED ALCOHOL BY THE
TIME THEY WERE READY To GRADUATE, No OTHER DRUG HAS THIS HIGH AN
EXPERIENCE RATING,  BUT THERE ARE TlJO ADDITIONAL POINTS THAT ARE EVEN

MORE TROUBLING:

0   THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS -- 5.7 PERCENT --
WERE DRINKING ALCOHOL EVERY DAY IN 19G2 AS WERE DRINKING EVERY DAY
IN 1975, THAT'S ROUGHLY ONE IN EVERY 17 HIGH scHo0~ SENIORS, A
VERY HIGH PROPORTION AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COMING DOWN,

5   IN ADDITION, THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN WHAT'S CALLED "BINGE
DRINKING," THAT IS, DRINKING 5 OR MORE GLASSES IN A ROW OF AN
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE,  ACCORDING TO SURVEY RESPONSES, 41 PERCENT OF


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ALL SENIORS HAD SUCH A "BINGE" WITHIN THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD PRIOR TO

THE 1982 SURVEY. THAT WAS UP FROM THE 37 PERCENT WHO SAID THEY'D

HAD SUCH A BINGE IN THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE 1975 SURVEY.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHILE OTHER DRUG USAGE IS EITHER STABILIZING OR CON-

TINUING TO HEAD DOWN, ALCOHOL ABUSE IS STABILIZING OR EVEN HEADING UP,

  WE SHOULD ALL BE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ALCOHOL CAN

CAUSE SUCH IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CARDIOVASCULAR, GASTROINTESTINAL,

AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS,  IT IS ALSO A MAJOR THREAT TO THE UNBORN

CHILD, AS THE CO-SPONSOR OF THIS MEETING, THE MARCH OF DIMES BIRTH

DEFECTS FOUNDATION, KNOWS SO WELL.

  AND RIGHT HERE LET ME PUBLICLY THANK THAT ORGANIZATION FOR ITS

EXCELLENT PORK IN TH 1s AREA,  IT NOT ONLY CARRIES OUT ITS OWN PROGRAM,

BUT IT STIMULATES OTHER NATIONAL GROUPS, SUCH AS THE N.C.E.A., TO GET

MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN HEALTH MATTERS, AND IT ALSO STAYS ON TOP OF THE

GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE WE DO WHAT 1JE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. MUCH OF THAT

ACTIVITY IS DERIVED FROM THE PERSONAL COMMITMENT OF DR, MARY HUGHES,

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MARCH OF DIMES, TO WHOM WE OWE A SPECIAL VOTE OF

THANKS,


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  JUST WHAT Is THE DANGER THAT ALCOHOL POSES TO PREGNANT WOMEN? WE
GET SOME IDEA OF IT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL IN ATLANTA,

WHICH HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE INCIDENCE OF SOME 150 BIRTH DEFECTS FOR

OVER A DECADE.  IT IS THEIR CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THAT 1,800 TO 2,400

INFANTS ARE BORN EACH YEAR WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME,

  BUT WE ALSO HAVE EVIDENCE OF "FETAL ALCOHOL EFFECTS": THAT IS, WE

ARE SEEING DAMAGE TO THE FETUS THAT SEEMS ALCOHOL-RELATED, BUT IS OF A
LESSER MAGNITUDE THAN IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME,

ALL TOLD, THEN, OUR INFORMATION HAS INDICATED THERE MAY BE MORE LIKE

36,000 BABIES EACH YEAR AFFECTED IN SOME ADVERSE WAY BY THEIR MOTHERS'

DRINKING.

  BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS THAT SERIOUS, WE RELEASED A SURGEON

GENERAL'S WARNING ON FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME IN JULY 1981, AT THAT TIME
WE ADVISED THAT EVERY WOMAN "SHOULD BE TOLD ABOUT THE RISK OF ALCOHOL

CONSUMPTION DURING PREGNANCY, AND ADVISED NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVER-

AGES AND TO BE AWARE OF THE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT OF FOODS AND DRUGS,"


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IT IS A STRONG WARNING, BUT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 1s IN GENERAL

AGREEMENT,  IN THE RECENT MAY 13 ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE COUNCIL ON SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS OF THE A.M.A.
HAS REAFFIRMED OUR WARNING, THE COUNCIL ADVISES THAT "PHYSICIANS
SHOULD BE EXPLICIT IN REINFORCING THE CONCEPT THAT, WITH SEVERAL
ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE STILL IN DOUBT, THE SAFEST COURSE IS ABSTINENCE,"

  THE RESEARCH IS STILL NEW AND, YES, SOME QUESTIONS ARE STILL UN-

ANSWERED.  HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT A MOTHER'S HEAVY DRINKING --
"BINGE" DRINKING -- DURING A PREGNANCY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE BABY'S
SUFFERING MODERATE TO SEVERE MENTAL RETARDATION, LESS THAN NORMAL
PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL GROWTH, A VARIETY OF UNPLEASANT FACIAL ABNORMAL-
ITIES, OR OTHER EFFECTS SUCH AS RENAL, SKELETAL, OR CARDIAC MALFORMA-

TIONS,

  VIRTUALLY HALF OF ALL BIRTHS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DELIVERED OF
WOMEN AGED 15 THROUGH 24, WITH ABOUT A HALF MILLION WOMEN HAVING THEIR
FIRST CHILD BEFORE THEY REACH THEIR 13~~ BIRTHDAY. WHAT COULD BE MORE
CATASTROPHIC FOR A YOUNG WOMAN, POSSIBLY A YOUNG GIRL STILL IN HIGH
SCHOOL, THAN TO DELIVER HER FIRST CHILD AND DISCOVER IT IS IRREVERSIBLY
DISABLED, DISFIGURED -- OR DEAD?


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  ALCOHOL IS ALSO CLOSELY LINKED TO THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH
AMONG MEN AND WOMEN AGE 16-24: THE MOTOR VEHICLE, EACH YEAR, SOME
10,000 LIVES IN THIS AGE GROUP ARE LOST IN ALCOHOL-RELATED MOTOR

VEHICLE ACCIDENTS,  STATISTICALLY THAT'S ONE DEATH EVERY 52 MINUTES,
BUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH TERMS, IT IS ONE OF OUR WORST EPIDEMICS,

  FORMER SECRETARY RICHARD S, SCHWEIKER PUT THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NEAR

THE TOP OF HIS ACTION AGENDA.  IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, HE SET IN
MOTION A "SECRETARY'S INITIATIVE TO COMBAT TEENAGE ALCOHOL ABUSE" AND
BEGAN THE PLANNING FOR A SPECIAL "SECRETARY'S CONFERENCE FOR YOUTH ON

DRINKING AND DRIVING."  SECRETARY SCHWEIKER LEFT THE DEPARTMENT LAST
WINTER, BUT THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD or3 SCHEDULE IN LATE MARCH, WITH
THE SOLID SUPPORT OF OUR NEW SECRETARY, MARGARET HECKLER,

  AS A MEASURE OF THE KIND OF SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM IS GETTING INSIDE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LET ME TELL YOU WHO SHOWED UP FOR THE OPENING
CEREMONIES OF THAT CONFERENCE LAST MARCH:

THERE WAS, OF COURSE, THE CONFERENCE HOST, SECRETARY HECKLER,


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SHE wAs JONED 0N THE PLATFORM By ELIZABETH DOLE, THE SECRETARY 0F

TRANSPORTATION,, .

AND BY TERREL BELL, THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION,.,

AND BY AssIsTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DR. EDWARD N. BRANDT, JR,.,,

AND BY FORMER SECRETARY SCHWEIKER...

AND CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL BARNES OF MARYLAND, WHO SPONSORED THE
FEDERAL LAW THAT HELPS STATES GET DRUNK DRIVERS OFF THEIR

HIGHWAYS,,.

AND DR. WILLIAM MAYER, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ALCOHOL, DRUG

ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH

SERVICE.

  BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, AS ILLUSTRIOUS A GROUP AS THAT WAS,
THE !,1OST IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE AT THE CONFERENCE WERE THE 324 TEENAGERS

WHO WERE THE REAL PARTICIPANTS,  THERE WERE AT LEAST 5 FROM EACH STATE
AND TERRITORY, PLUS OTHERS WHO WERE INVITED TO COME AND DESCRIBE THE

PROGRAMS THEY HAD STARTED.


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  THE CONFERENCE WAS "BY STUDENTS m STUDENTS' WHO ARE CONCERNED

ABOUT THE TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF DRUNK DRIVING BY YOUNG

PEOPLE,  PRESENTATIONS IiERE MADE BY STUDENTS FROM SUCH GROUPS AS., .

0   'OPERATION:StlOWBALL' IN ILLINOIS, AN ALCOHOL AND-DRUG PROGRAM

STARTED BY 5 TEENAGERS IN i977.,,

0   AN ALCOHOL SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM IN MINNESOTA CALLED 'THE

CONTROL FACTOR" IN WHICH TRAINED STUDENTS WORK WITH THEIR

CLASSMATES,.,

5   "PROJECT GRADUATION" IN MAINE' 1IHICH EMPHASIZES "CHEMICAL-

FREE' PARTIES FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS,,,

0   AND 'STUDENTS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING,' OR 'S.A.D.D.,' A

NATIONAL PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY STUDENTS AT CJAYLAND HIGH SCHOOL IN

MASSACHUSETTS AND NOW NUMBERING HUNDREDS OF CHAPTERS IN 22 STATES

ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

THIS IS THE KIND OF POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE THAT !4E FEEL MIGHT FINALLY

TIP THE BALANCE AGAINST ALCOHOL AND SEND THOSE STATISTICAL CURVES

DOWNWARD ONCE AGAIN,


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  BUT MEANWHILE, WE MUST FACE THE FACT THAT MORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS USE ALCOHOL THAN ANY OTHER PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG...THAT NEARLY A
THIRD OF ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BECOME DRUNK AT LEAST 6 TIMES A YEAR
,,.AND THAT THE AVERAGE AGE AT WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE BEGIN TO DRINK IS
NOW 13, BUT THAT AVERAGE IS STILL CONTINUING TO GO DOWN,

  BECAUSE OF ITS TERRIBLE EFFECTS UPON THE HUMAN MIND, BODY, AND

SPIRIT A~JD BECAUSE IT 1s SUCH A FACTOR IN HIGHWAY DEATHS AND INJURIES,
ALCOHOL ABUSE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT WITH AS MUCH 1:1TELLIGENCE AND ENERGY

AS WE HAVE AVAILABLE.  THIS IS O!-IE BATTLE WE DARE NOT LOSE,

  THE LAST DRUG I WILL DISCUSS THIS EVENING IS ONE THAT SOME OF YOU
INDULGE IN AT GRAVE RISK TO YOURSELVES, TO YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES,

A!lD TO YOUR FAMILIES,. .

IT IS A PROVEN KILLER: WE'VE GOT MORE THAN ENOUGH GOOD SCIENCE TO

SHOW THAT...

THIS YEAR IT WILL CAUSE AN ESTIMATED 340,000 AMERICANS TO DIE

PREMATURELY BY 1iATJY YEARS.. .


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IT IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN DEATHS FROM CANCER, HEART ATTACKS, AND

STROKE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT CIGARETTES.

HERE AGAIN, WE ARE VERY TROUBLED

BY A FLATTENING OUT OF THE CURVE

OF USE,  FOR A WHILE THERE WAS A STEADY DROP IN THE NUMBERS OF HIGH

SCHOOL SENIORS SMOKING CIGARETTES, ACCORDING TO THE MICHIGAN DATA.,,

FROM 29 PERCENT OF THE CLASS OF 1377 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE CLASS OF

1381,  BUT IN 1982 THE DECLINE STOPPED AND MAY EVEN HAVE TURNED AROUND,

WHICH IS VERY WORRISOME.

  IF THAT 1s REALLY THE CASE, THEN WE HAD BETTER PREPARE Now FOR THE

EXTRAORDINARY BURDEN OF CHRONIC ILLNESS OUR SOCIETY WILL HAVE TO BEAR,

WHEN TODAY'S YOUNGSTERS REACH MIDDLE AGE,

  I SAID EARLIER THAT I WAS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO WAGE A

SUCCESSFUL FIGHT AGAIKT THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, I BASED MY

OPTIMISM ON THE STRONG FEELINGS EXPRESSED BY PARENTS TO THEIR TEEFAAGE

CHILDREN AND EXPRESSED BY THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES,


-2G-

  PARENTS WERE DESCRIBED BY THEIR CHILDREN -- LAST YEAR'S SENIOR HIGH

SCHOOL CLASS -- AS DISAPPROVItlG OF PACK-A-DAY SklOKING AND DAILY DRINK-

ING.  AGAIN, THE FIGURE WAS 92 PERCENT OR BETTER OF THE RESPONDING

STUDENTS REPORTED THIS.

  BUT WE NEED TO HANDLE THIS STATISTIC WITH SOME CARE, A THIRD OF
OUR ADULTS SMOKE CIGARETTES,  OBVIOUSLY, MANY PARENTS WHO TELL THEIR
CHILDREN NOT TO SMOKE ARE, THEMSELVES, CIGARETTE SMOKERS. MANY PARENTS

WHO SAY, "DON`T DRINK," ARE, THEMSELVES, HEAVY DRINKERS, AND WE KNOW
FROM OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCE DATA THAT THE CHILDREN OF SMOKERS TEND TO
SMOKE AND THE CHILDREN OF DRINKERS TEND TO DRINK,

  THE MICHIGAN RESULTS ARE GOOD.  BUT WE MUST NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL
WE CAN REPORT WITH SOME ASSURANCE THAT "92 PERCENT OR BETTER OF
RESPONDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SAID THEIR PARENTS DISAPPROVED OF
SMOKING AND DRINKING BY SAYING SO AND ALSO BY ABSTAINING FROM BOTH TO
SHOW THEY MEAN IT."

  POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE IS NOT AS STRONG AS PARENTAL FEELINGS, AS

PERCEIVED BY STUDENTS.  BUT IT'S NEVERTHELESS AS STRONG AGAINST THESE

TWO LEGALLY SOLD DRUGS -- CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL -- AS IT IS WITH THE


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ILLICIT DRUGS,  ABOUT 3 OF EVERY 4 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS THINK THEIR
FRIENDS WOULD DISAPPROVE IF THEY SMOKED A PACK OF CIGARETTES OR HAD
ONE OR MORE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS EACH DAY,

  I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO HAVE SEEN SOMETHING CLOSER TO 9 OUT OF

lo,,, BUT FOR NOW I AM WILLING TO WORK FROM A REASONABLY STRONG BASE OF

3 OUT OF EVERY 4,  AND I URGE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO JOIN ME,

  I HAD WANTED TO CLOSE MY PRESENTATION THIS EVENING ON A HOPEFUL
NOTE AND I REALLY BELIEVE I CAN.  THE EVIDENCE WE'RE BEGINNING TO GET
-- FROM SURVEYS, FROM PARENT ACTION GROUPS, AND FROM ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS THE MARCH OF DIMES AND THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION

ASSOCIATION -- IS EVIDENCE THAT CAN JUSTIFY OUR BEING OPTIMISTIC.

MOST OF OUR INFORMATION DOES POINT US IN A HOPEFUL DIRECTION:

IT SUMMONS US TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD FOR PROGRESS IN CHILD

HEALTH. ,a


-25-

IT STRENGTHENS OUR IkSTIKTS TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS AND TO CARE

DEEPLY ABOUT ALL OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN,..

AND IT REMINDS US THAT THERE IS STILL MUCH ROOM AND MUCH TIME FOR

GROWTH,

AND, LEST WE FORGET, "GROWTH," AS CARDINAL NEWMAN WROTE OVER A CENTURY

AGO, "IS THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF LIFE."

  ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUS INVITATION TO SHARE THIS

EVENING WITH YOU,  AND BEST WISHES FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

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