June 14, 1988 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 14483 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS PRESIDENT REAGAN ADDRESS­ the winning side, part of the overwhelming drugs not just possible, but ultimately cer­ ES OUR NATIONAL CONFER­ consensus against illegal drugs in America. tain. The glamorizing of drugs in film and ENCE ON A DRUG-FREE WORK­ An important symbol of that consensus music that as so much a part of the "pro­ and of the distance that we have traveled as gressive" culture has declined and instead PLACE a society is that our drug policy today is one the most popular stars and sports celebrities of "zero tolerance." That means absolutely, are warning our young people that using HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN positively, none-no exceptions. drugs is dangerous for their health-and I have to tell you that I am especially bad for their image. We are also becoming OF NEW YORK proud of the anti-drug work that Nancy has increasingly intolerant of illegal drugs on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES done that has changed the way that we talk our college and university campuses. And and think about illegal drugs. It was not employers are stating right up front that il­ Tuesday, June 14, 1988 that long ago that the message to our young legal drug use will be hazardous to their Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, last week I was people was that experimenting with illegal workers' careers. drugs was not only harmless, but was a good afforded the opportunity to attend the National Some very encouraging news about the thing, an instant path to popularity and so­ prospects for a drug-free work force came in Conference on a Drug-Free Workplace, held phistication. The social stigma all too often last year's annual survey of high school sen­ here in Washington, DC. This productive and was not on the drug user, but on the young iors. The survey showed that the "Just Say informative conference was conducted to sup­ person who refused to try drugs. As I have No" message is getting through to the new port major initiatives to address abuse in the said before, the tragic fact is that many generation of workers: Almost all students workplace. young people began using drugs not to rebel said it was wrong to even try a drug like co­ Although representatives and CEO's of or escape, but just to fit in. caine. And the percentage of students who In many ways our country is still paying indicated that they were currently using il­ many, major corporations participated in this for the erosion of our values and the decline event, the bulk of the credit for bringing the legal drugs was lower than in previous in self-responsibility that occurred in the years. conference together goes to the Hoffman-La 1960's and 1970's. The students of that You in the business community are play­ Roche Co. period who used illegal drugs in high school ing a critical role in America's transition to The president and chief executive officer of or college have, in many cases, taken their a drug-free society. You are providing drug Hoffman-La Roche, Irwin Lerner, cited the destructive drug habits with them into their education to your employees. You are offer­ President's call in his State of the Union Ad­ places of employment. What we have found ing counseling and treatment to help men dress for a "renewed commitment" against is that drug users at work pose a threat to and women escape from drug dependency. their co·workers and represent a corporate You are providing drug testing to help deter the use of illicit drugs and called upon the crisis and a national catastrophe. CEO's of the Fortune 500 companies "to join and detect illegal drug use. And you send a What was once defended as a so-called strong message to your work force and com­ me in responding to this challenge." ''victimless crime," we now find is costing munity that your company has "zero toler­ President Reagan sounded the clarion call America billions of dollars a year in lost pro­ ance" for illegal drugs and that users must for a drug-free workplace in this keynote ad­ ductivity. We are finding that drug users be held responsible for their illicit drug use. dress to the assembled participants. I was so are 2 or 3 times more likely to skip work as You make it clear that not only are drug impressed with the President's remarks that I non-users-and 3 or 4 times as likely to be users not part of the "in crowd," but unless involved in accidents when they do show up. they quit taking illegal drugs they will be would like to share them with our colleagues, They are more likely to steal from their em­ and ask that they be reprinted in full at this ployers, and their health care costs are sub­ part of the out-of-work crowd. point in the RECORD. Most importantly, in everything you do, stantially higher. It is no surprise that 92 you keep the focus on the user. This is vital. percent of all Americans say they don't NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON A DRUG-FREE We are confiscating more drugs at the WORKPLACE want to work around someone who gets high during the day, and who can blame border than ever before in history. We are Thank you, Irwin Lerner. Thank you all. them? Having seen the damage caused by il­ convicting more drug dealers and giving It is a pleasure to be here with you to par­ legal drugs in the workplace, our message is them longer sentences. We are eradicating ticipate in this National Conference on Cor­ simple: Let's get those blasted drugs out, more drug fields around the world, devoting porate Initiatives for a Drug-Free Work­ now. more resources to drug enforcement than place. I am delighted by the strong leader­ The good news is that there has been a ever before, and bringing the military into ship that the business community is show­ major change of attitude in America, and an unprecedented level of support in the ing in this vital effort. And I thank Con­ the work that you are doing is an important battle against illegal drugs. gressman Gilman who is here with us today, part of it. The momentum has shifted from But in the final analysis, the focus must for his long, continuing efforts in fighting those who celebrated the drug sub-culture be on the user. Because so long as there is a narcotics. to the people who just say no and help demand for illegal drugs, there will be a You know, I have been speaking out about others to do the same. Illegal drugs and powerful financial incentive for drug traf­ the problem of illegal drugs for a very long drug use are not being tolerated anymore. fickers to satisfy that demand. mtimately, time now. When I began doing so as Gover­ Yes, the enemy-illegal drug use-is still the solution requires transforming illegal nor of California, the times were very differ­ out there and still a threat. But today ille­ drug-users into non-users. And the anti-drug ent. In fact, a conference of this type would gal drug use is an enemy that has no de­ programs you are conducting in the work~ have been unlikely-and had it been held, f enders. Not only is an ever-increasing place are an essential part of this effort. there probably would have been pickets out number of Americans personally rejecting As you work to get drugs out of your of­ in front. the use of illegal drugs, but the country as a fices and plants, it is important to remem­ Well, when I arrived here today there hole is moving to deglamorize and depopu­ ber that the problem of illegal drug use is a were no pickets, no petitions, no demonstra­ larize their use. global problem. You may know, for exam­ tions, no protests-so we circled the block a Law enforcement authorities, such as the ple, that Nancy, in addition to all that she couple of times while we checked that this police, the Coast Guard, the Drug Enforce­ has done at home, has organized two inter­ was the right hotel. But the truth is that at­ ment Administration, and the Customs national conferences of First Ladies to dis­ titudes toward illegal drugs really have Service, are critical players in the war on cuss the drug problem, one held at the changed: We can see it in the media, we can drugs. But there are limits on what can be White House, the other held at the United see it among our youth, and we can see it on accomplished on the "supply side." There Nations. And just this afternoon, Nancy will the floor of Congress. must also be stern social sanctions on the be addressing 1,300 women from countries Though the struggle for a drug-free Amer­ user of illegal drugs and broad societal sup­ around the world who are attending the ica has not yet been won, the moral and cul­ port for individuals being drug-free. World Gas Conference. So, in many nations tural battle to define the threat of illegal It is this change in attitudes that, I be­ and in many languages, there are young drugs is clear-and it is all of us who are on lieve, makes total victory in the war on people learning the words "Just Say No." e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.