Page 8, Portland Observer, March 23, 1988
Billion Dollar Drug Business
Finds Profits in Children
Last year, 365 children between the ages of 11 and 14 were arrested on
narcotics charges in the city of Los Angeles. The same year, nearly three
thousand Los Angeles juveniles between 15 and 17 were arrested on the
same charges.
Those figures, however, are not limited only to the city of Los Angeles.
Incidence of drug use and drug abuse among minors continues to rise at an
alarming rate around the country.
According to one expert, rising drug abuse among children is being
fueled not only by the easy availability of substances such as crack —a
cheap, highly concentrated, smokable form of cocaine that can be pur
chased on the streets for less than the cost of a new compact disc recording
but by peer pressure that makes taking drugs not only acceptable but
even attractive.
"Only half of all high school seniors say they find any risk in trying heroin
or LSD once or tw ice," says John Duff, author of the book The Truth
About Drugs". "The idea these kids have is that drugs are something you
can just 'try' and then somehow remain unaffected. That's crazy.
"W e have become very conditioned to the idea that drug use and drug
abuse is something that is somehow socially acceptable says Duff, who is
also President of Narconon International, one of the most successful drug
education and rehabilitation programs in the country.
Drugs are an $800 billion-a-year business worldwide," he notes. "That
is a business that is larger than the gross national product of any single
country in the world. There is obviously a very large vested interest that
wants people on drugs. "
"What is happening now is that the drug market is being expanded by
selling more and more drugs to progressively younger and younger users,"
he says. "A t the same time, those drugs are not only being made more
available but also more cheaply attainable, as with crack. That's why we
are now faced with 11 and 12 year olds addicted to street drugs."
The difficulty in getting juveniles off drugs is compounded by the fact
that parents are often either unable to recognize their children's drug pro
blems or are themselves abusing drugs.
"Seventy to eighty percent of all Americans have tried some form of
illegal drug by the time they reach their mid-twenties," says Duff. "Parents
often have to handle their own drug problem before they can handle their
children's."
Though users usually consider it difficult, if not impossible, to kick a drug
habit, there are effective rehab programs available according to Duff, who
successfully freed himself from heroin addiction.
"The Narconon program not only gets a person off drugs, but keeps
them o ff," says Duff. "Narconon also provides drug education seminars
for parents, teachers and anyone else who feels they may not be able to
really recognize the symptoms of drug abuse.
"If you know what the warning signs are, you can take steps to get your
children off drugs before they become addicts," says Duff.
"O f course, the best way to deal with the problem is to teach children to
say no to drugs in the first place."
The Black United Fund
of Oregon
‘Helping People
Help Themselves'
The Black United Fund of Oregon provides financial and
technical assistance to non-profit organizations operating in or
serving Oregon s Black communities.
Send your tax deductible contribution to the BUFO at P.O.
Box 12400, Portland, OK. 97212, (503)282-7973, or contribute
through your company's payroll deduction plan.
These companies are leading the way in payroll deductions and
helping the BUFO better serve our communities.
IBM Corporation
Portland Community
College
St. Andrew Legal Clinic
M eli’sa Morgan: Burgeoning
Talent Has Big Voice, Big Plans
W ith the release of only her
first album since her successful
debut in 1985, sultry songstress
M eli’sa Morgan is getting rave re
views for her impressive follow
up effort, "Good Love,” reports
the April EBONY.
M o rg a n , th e 2 4 -y e a r-o ld
Queens, N.Y., native, says she
Hair Elegance Designers
Easter Special *1
For the Whole
Family
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considers herself the quintes
sential “ romantic realist” . Al
though much of the lyrics in her
music involve romantic themes,
she readily adm its that “ not
every song is about me.”
“ My songs don’t have happy,
happy endings,” M eli’sa says.
“ They tell of the struggle to get
through a relationship. Struggle
is the meat of a relationship," she
adds. “ And, consequently, is
good material for songs.”
Like many top female vocal
ists, Morgan’s musical founda
tions can be traced back to the
church. Although herdistinctive
style, and her new album are win
ning hera host of rhythm & blues
fans, M eli’sa seeks to broaden
her acceptance to gospel audi
ences. "There are so many mes
sages in gospel music and so
many things people need to
hear,” she says. “ I want to be a
good singer whom everyone en
joys.”
!! F Make
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with Relaxer and Trim
Children Discounted
with
Family Special
284-2374
603 N.E. Killingsw orth
. • >
Hair Elegance Designers got
started October 18,1986, on 13th
and Dekum. We later decided to
make another career move to 603
N.E. Killingsworth, where busi
ness has been both a pleasure
and success. We have a full-
service salon, and plan to expand
our business with hair supplies,
facial room, snacks, and there
w ill be no need to stop anywhere
afterwards. Come and check us
out.
Three
to keep
you
flying
free.
Here are three basic
rules to keep kite flying
free of trouble! One. al
ways fly in dry weather
away from any over
head wires. Two. never
use any wire or metal in
your kite. Three, if your
kite does get caught up
in a power line, don’t
try to get it untangled,
lust call us.
We spell help in some
N ARCH 18-MAY »
Organized by th . S«o J o « MuMam oi A n and
rireubned undar ifw aiMptcm <d the American Federation of Art»
fa merging of the Art Mueenm Awr.-iation and the American Federation oi Anal.
Oregon Art Institute
Museum Cofieje & S m Canter
Portland A rt Museum, 1219 SW Park, Phone 226-2811
— .
■ —-
Wholesale
Pricing
On Groceries
Gone Public
PHONE 283-3171
They’ll Tell You All About It
BOB FRINK SUSUKI
19895 McLOUGHLIN BLVD.
(503) 655-7468
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ROBERT CO LE SC OTT
Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of
your groceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30
years, has offered the public weekly sfnpments of name-brand
groceries at genuine wholesale prices.
You'll find canned and
packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close-dated deli
nroducts on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to
buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount
you need. Located at 800 N. Killingsworth, just east of 1-5, they are
open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn't it about
time you save on your grocery bill?
1-800-G C -BU IIT
1-8OO-632-FESH
1-8OO-423-WARM
1-8OO-852-SÄFE
1-800-SPA-TIME
1-8OO-443-PUMP
1-8OO-722-WÄTR
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The Homowa Foundation for African Arts and Cultures presents a
performance called “ African Ritual: Then and Now” featuring Obo
Addy, Kukrudu and guest artists. The show will be held in the Inter
mediate Theatre at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Fri
day April 1 and Saturday. April 2, at 8 p.m. The concert will feature
the traditional ritual music of Ghana, West Africa and new composi
tions based on the same rhythms but with the addition of western
instrumentation. Tickets can be purchased at the box office of the
Performing Arts Center and G.L Joe s.—
A Retrospective. 1975-1986
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Leisure C u r l...........$60°°
R elaxers................. $25°°
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N N.E. Community Mental
Health Clinic
Portland Public Schools
Tri-Met
FIRST TIME BUYER
6 MOS. RESIDENCE
6 MOS. JOB
D O N ’T PUT
YOUR LIFE
ON THE LINE.
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For instance, # the number above that ends in PUMP puts you i n # touch with
all kinds of information on heat pumps. The number that ends in SAFE Melds informa
tion on outdoor lighting. The number that ends in WAIR covers electric water heaters
And the number that ends in WARM is for weatherization.
Fact is, we have a direct line for virtually every' one of our services-so we dont
waste your time switching you from line to line. To call, simply look us up in your local
NO CREDIT?
YOU MAY QUALIFY
PORTLAND OBSERVER
The Eyes and Ears of the Community'
288-0033
telephone directory'.
There, help is spelled just like you'd expect. “Portland General Electric.
P O R T L A N D
G E N E R A L
NEW AND USED CARS
ANY MAKE
ANY MODEL
ASK FOR
DEXTER LESUEUR
ASST. SALES MANAGER
E L E C T R
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