NCJ Number
60044
Date Published
1978
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL OF THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DOCUMENTS HEARINGS HELD ON THE INCIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE IN NEW CITY SCHOOLS.
Abstract
THE HEARINGS WERE HELD TO IDENTIFY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN THE CITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FINDING SOME SOLUTIONS TO IT. DURING THE 3 DAYS OF HEARINGS, THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED TESTIMONY FROM CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND DRUG ABUSE SERVICES AND FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE OF YOUTH. THIS LATTER GROUP WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG USERS AND ABUSERS AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DRUG PREVENTION. THE REPORT DOCUMENTS THEIR TESTIMONY. THE COMMITTEE FOUND THAT THE SITUATION IN THE CITY SCHOOLS WAS INDICATIVE OF A CRITICAL SITUATION EXISTENT IN ALL MAJOR METROPOLITAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS IN THE U.S. AMONG THE FINDINGS WERE THAT THE USE OF NARCOTICS IN NEW YORK SHOWED A TENDENCY TOWARD SOFT DRUGS (ALCOHOL AND MARIHUANA) THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN ABSENTEEISM IN SCHOOLS AND DRUG ABUSE, THAT NO STANDARIZED DRUG INTERVENTION PROGRAM EXISTS BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK, AND THAT LITTLE EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE 80,000 PLUS ABSENTEES REENTER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. TEACHERS ARE NOT EDUCATED TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH DRUG-TROUBLED YOUNGSTERS AND THERE IS A LACK OF COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOL ADMINSTRATORS AND DRUG PROGRAM DIRECTORS. AMONG THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS TO RECTIFY THESE PROBLEMS WERE IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL SECURITY, ENFORCEMENT OF STRICT ABSENTEEISM REGULATIONS AN ENACTMENT OF A PREVENTION/EDUCATION DRUG CURRICULUM. (MJW)