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          Child Health Information Project
               Children's Defense Fund
                  December 18, 2000
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In this issue:

* TEENAGE DRUG USE IN THE U.S. REMAINS THE SAME

* NEW PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNIZATION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

* NEW REPORT FOCUSES ON IMMIGRANTS AND BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS
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TEENAGE DRUG USE IN THE U.S. REMAINS THE SAME

December 14 - Overall use of illicit drugs among teenagers has remained unchanged from last year, according to the 2000 Monitoring the Future Survey released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The survey monitors reported drug use among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders.

The survey also found that cigarette use among teens dropped significantly, with past month use of cigarettes down from 17.5 percent to 14.6 percent among eighth graders and from 34.6 percent to 31.4 percent among twelfth graders in the last year. Alcohol use among these age groups remains largely unchanged.

"This year's survey confirms that teens' use of marijuana and most other drugs has leveled off and even decreased among younger students. And we've also begun to have a positive impact on teen smoking," HHS Secretary Donna Shalala said. "But we must remain vigilant to new threats.... Parents and teachers need to realize that they are the first and best influences on children's attitudes about alcohol, tobacco, and drugs."

The MTF Survey, conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has tracked twelfth graders' illicit drug use and attitudes towards drugs since 1975.  In 1991, eighth and tenth graders were added to the survey.  Over 45,000 students in 435 schools across the nation were surveyed about lifetime use, past year use, past month use, daily use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

To read the findings of the 2000 MTF Survey, go to: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html 

Source: HHS Press Release, www.hhs.gov , December 14, 2000.
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NEW PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNIZATION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

December 11 - President Clinton, along with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, launched a new federal initiative to increase immunization rates among children nationwide. The President will issue an executive memorandum directing the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assess the immunization status of the five million children under the age of five participating in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and subsequently refer them to a health care provider where appropriate.

The memorandum will also direct the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a national strategy to ensure more accurate and cost-effective immunization assessment, referrals, and follow-up for children at risk.

According to the 1999 National Immunization Survey, 80 percent of children in the U.S. have received the immunizations included in the 4:3:1:3 series (four or more doses of DTP, three or more doses of the poliovirus vaccine, one or more doses of any MCV, and three or more doses of Hib). However, racial and ethnic disparities still persist.  In this same category, 74 percent of Black children, 75 percent of Hispanic children, and 77 percent of Asian or Pacific Islander children have received the same immunizations, compared with 81 percent of White children.

To read the full press release, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/WH/new/html/Mon_Dec_11_135016_2000.html 

Sources:
1) White House Press Release, www.whitehouse.gov,  December 11,2000.
2) National Immunization Survey, 1999.
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NEW REPORT FOCUSES ON IMMIGRANTS AND BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS

A new report by the Global Strategy Group, Inc. for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured addresses the barriers immigrants face in accessing  health care coverage and services for themselves and their families.

The report's findings are based on focus groups conducted in Miami, New York City, Los Angeles/Orange County, and San Antonio, TX consisting of immigrants whose family income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

In addition to the various barriers that all low-income families often face when trying to access health care coverage and services, barriers faced by immigrants in  these focus groups included language, culture, and recent immigration policy.

To read the full report, go to: www.kff.org /content/2000/1608/
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