The Nation : U.S. to Speed Drug Funds

Education Secretary William J. Bennett said that the government will speed distribution of $200 million in new drug education funds because of the “emergency nature of the drug problem” among the nation’s youth. In a letter to state officials, Bennett said his department will not delay the funding by writing new regulations, but instead will rely on the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, signed by President Reagan last month, as well as catchall regulations and non-regulatory guidelines. He said the grants will range from $15.6 million for California to almost $800,000 for the 13 least populous states.