Teenagers More Accepting of Drug Use, Survey Finds
Teenagers in 1995 were less likely than those in 1993 to consider drug use harmful and were more likely to believe that such use is tolerated, according to a national study released last week.
The percentage of teens who felt strongly that they were afraid to take illicit drugs declined from 47 percent to 36 percent, according to the report from the New York City-based Partnership for a Drug-Free America. And the proportion that said they did not want to associate with drug users declined from 55 percent to 39 percent.
Another report, “Keeping Score 1996: What We Are Getting for Our Federal Drug Control Dollars,” released last week by the Washington-based group Drug Strategies, argues that that federal money should be redirected from controlling the drug supply to curbing demand by boosting prevention and research efforts.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America study is not available for ordering. Copies of the “Keeping Score 1996" report are free by mailing or faxing a request to Drug Strategies, 2445 M St. N.W., Suite 480, Washington, D.C. 20037; fax (202) 663-6110.
Software Acquisitions
A Connecticut company has announced its intention to acquire two educational-software companies in a $1.8 billion stock swap.
CUC International Inc., known for its member shopping services, said it will acquire Davidson & Associates, a Los Angeles-based company that created MathBlaster, one of the nation’s best-selling educational-software programs. CUC also plans to acquire Sierra On-Line, a Bellevue, Wash., company that makes entertainment and educational software.
If shareholders approve, the purchase would make CUC one of the nation’s largest educational-software producers.