Revised Strategy Seeks Steer Minors From Drinking

By Ellen Flax

WASHINGTON -- Marking a significant shift in the federal government's fight against drug abuse, a revised national anti-drug strategy calls for increased efforts to prevent minors from using alcohol.

The third annual drug policy, released last week by Bob Martinez, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, calls on schools and parents to promote abstinence from alcohol among minors.

"Although the data show a continuing decline in the alcohol consumption among oar youth, the number of underage alcohol consumers is still much too high," the policy report says. "Therefore, while illegal drugs remain the primary focus, starting this year the National Drug Control Strategy will devote additional attention to the nexus between alcohol abuse, especially by underage...