SURVEY FINDS TEEN DRUG USE STEADY

WASHINGTON (AP) Drug use among teenagers remained stable last year and
more adolescents are starting to disapprove of such activity, according to
an annual survey released today by the Clinton administration.

The use of illegal drugs among eighth graders was steady from 1996 to 1997,
with the exceptions of marijuana, cigarettes and heroin, which showed a
slight decrease in use, according to the report by the Department of Health
and Human Services.

In a statement echoed by President Clinton and a Republican spokesmen in
separate radio messages, HHS Secretary Donna Shalala said ``The possible
slowdown of illicit drug use among young people is encouraging, even though
rates of use remain unacceptably high.''