October 17, 2005

There are few challenges that pose a greater risk to our young people than the use and abuse of drugs. While alcohol and tobacco are more commonly used by young people in Nebraska, these drugs have also been shown to lead to more dangerous and addictive drugs such as methamphetamine. It was the growing use of this drug that was a key topic of discussion during the Seventh Annual Governor’s Conference on Youth Violence and Substance Abuse held recently in Lincoln.

This year’s conference focused on preventing the use of methamphetamine and steroids among Nebraska youth, and stressed the importance of parental involvement, community cooperation, education and communication in the fight against teen drug abuse. It is just one way we are bringing parents, youth advocates, treatment providers, school officials, social services professionals and members of law enforcement together to learn preventative measures that will benefit Nebraska’s young people.

A study conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency showed that more than half of last year’s meth lab discoveries were made in Midwestern states. A Nebraska State Patrol investigation revealed that more than 300 meth labs were discovered in Nebraska during 2003.

That number is expected to decline as LB 117, the anti-meth legislation passed last session forces the key ingredient used to make meth behind store counters and limits the amount that can be purchased. The law also stiffens penalties for meth cooks and dealers.

We’ve taken a significant step forward in preventing meth from being made in Nebraska, but we know that we must also be more proactive in our attempts to prevent children from falling victim to the meth that is trafficked into the state by stepping up our law enforcement efforts and discussing the dangers of meth with our young people.

A second focus of this year’s conference is one that’s received much attention in recent months – steroid use.

National attention on the increasing use of steroid has raised questions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs by our young people. Some studies estimate that between 6 and 11 percent of high-school-aged boys and 2 to 3 percent of high-school-aged girls use steroids, while a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found 5 percent of high school students reported using steroids in 2001.

More concerning perhaps are results indicating that more and more students don’t believe steroids to be dangerous. In Nebraska, the numbers on youth steroid abuse are less clear.

This year the annual Nebraska Health and Human Services Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students will contain questions related to steroids, which will be our first attempt to gauge the prevalence of steroid use among Nebraska youth. Their feedback will help determine the best way to provide effective deterrents and information to students on the dangers of steroid use.

Greater discussion of this issue will better equip Nebraska students to resist these drugs and utilize healthier means to achieve their goals and remain drug-free.

These issues are important to all Nebraskans. Our young people are our future and we hope to provide them every opportunity to help ensure a bright future for each and every child. Finding ways to provide information that helps them to make the right choice when it comes to drugs is part of our promise to them.

I believe it is crucial to the future safety and stability of this state that we be vigilant in our efforts to fight drug use among our children, and I truly believe greater awareness and effective partnerships in our communities are the key to success in this fight.