on can only be led to increasing non-participation and growing ill feelings towards political issues in our country as well as a decline in general morality and good health. In a recent National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information press release, the findings were revealed that, in fact, "an estimated 52 percent (113 million) of the U.S. population, age 12 and older reported current use of alcohol in 1998. Of these, about 33 million (29.2 percent) were engaged in binge drinking and 12 million (10.6 percent) were heavy drinkers. The percentages of the population falling into these different groups have not changed since 1988. These facts clearly define the problems associated with alcohol and drug addiction in the United States, as does this further information from the same press release define this country's problems of drug addiction. "In 1998, an estimated 13.6 million Americans overall (6.2 percent of the U.S. population age 12 and older) were current users of illicit drugs." The NHSDA provides annual estimates of the prevalence of illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in the U.S. and monitors the trends in use over time. The above information is based on a representative sample of the United States' population age 12 and older, including persons living in households and in some group quarters such as dormitories and homeless shelters. In 1998, a sample of 25,500 persons was interviewed for the survey. It is important to note that the finding revealed alcohol and drug usage at earlier ages than previously realized. It is at these early ages in which children are most influenced by the daily occurrences within their homes and by their environments and peers. These early ages are clearly defined as the "formative" years.
             With such a prevalent existence of substance abuse in this country, one cannot help but understand why participation in our political processes is decreasing. "Far more alarming is the trend in Pris...