In fact, March 24th is America's National Recovery Day for those using illegal drugs. I want to take this opportunity to once again remind you of these dangers and encourage those of you who use illegal drugs, or know someone who does, to seek help. This is a serious problem facing our society, particularly our youth, and it's one we must overcome if America is to reach its full potential. Although the federal government has continued to wage the war on drugs, recent statistics show mixed results. Overall drug use among the population has remained the same, but teens continue to experiment with illegal drugs at an alarming rate.
Teens continue to rank drugs as the single most important problem they face.
Fifty-six percent of high school seniors know a drug dealer at school. Two out three high school students know a friend or classmate who has used acid, cocaine, or heroin. Forty-five percent of high school students say they could buy marijuana in an hour or less, with only 14 percent saying they couldn't buy it at all. Twenty-six percent say they could buy acid, cocaine, or heroin within a day. The amount of teens who have tried marijuana has more than doubled in the past decade.