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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEEOWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1999202/307-0703

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BROADCAST HELPS

COMMUNITIES COMBAT YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To help communities stem the tide of increasing youth drug abuse, the Justice Department's Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) today broadcast a national satellite teleconference to 130 downlink sites and to public access stations reaching 1.2 million people. The broadcast, "Youth Under Siege -- America's Deadly Drug Trends," examined the latest trends in youth heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine use and also focused on effective anti-drug youth outreach programs.

"Substance abuse threatens the lives of our youth and the safety of our neighborhoods," said EOWS Director Stephen Rickman. "The good news is that through research and effective community-based programs we can tackle this problem."

Today's broadcast spotlighted the National Institute of Justice's Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM), which consists of data collected from interviews and urinalysis of adult and juvenile arrestees and detainees in police lockups. ADAM can be a useful tool for analyzing the relationship between drugs and violent crime and attitudes about drug and gun use.

The teleconference also highlighted Youth Force, a South Bronx youth-run outreach initiative that includes a youth court, tutoring, educational resources and support for young people going through family and criminal court. Many Youth Force members were previously involved with the criminal or juvenile justice system and serve as examples of how young people can turn away from drugs and violence and lead productive lives. Members also offer leadership training residents at local juvenile detention facilities.

In addition, today's broadcast examines PharmTech's conceptual approach to alcoholism and drug dependency, which emphasize the need for addicts to accept responsibility for their actions and address factors that may have contributed to their dependency, such as dysfunctional family relationships. PharmTech, based in Santa Cruz, California, provides technical assistance and consulting services in behavioral health care and addiction medicine.

Today's teleconference reached law enforcement officials, juvenile court officials, substance abuse treatment providers, school leaders and U.S. Attorneys and was also broadcast live on the Law Enforcement Television Network.

To learn more about the other Weed and Seed programs and conferences, visit the EOWS Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows. Videotapes of the teleconference can be ordered by calling EOWS at 202/616-1152

Information about ADAM is available from the NIJ Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/NIJ.

Information about other OJP bureaus and program offices is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov. Media should contact OJP's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.

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