Pubdate: Wed, 10 May 2000 Source: USA Today (US) Copyright: 2000 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22229 Fax: (703) 247-3108 Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm Author: Donna Leinwand SENATORS URGE HELP FOR ADDICTS Alarmed by the rising number of teenage heroin addicts, two U.S. senators called on Tuesday for more treatment programs for youths and an anti-drug campaign aimed specifically at heroin. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, said he will introduce legislation to provide more money for local anti-drug coalitions. He also called for more education for health professionals, research for new treatments and a competitive grant program for youth residential treatment programs. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., co-chairman of the caucus, said legislation must address long-term treatment for teens. He also made a pitch for the Clinton administration's request for$1 billion to help drug interdiction efforts in Colombia. The senators made their proposals after a hearing in which four former teenage addicts testified. ''I could get it almost any night or day I wanted it,'' said Phillip Proses, 19, of Selden, N.Y. Proses, introduced to heroin at 14, testified to overdosing seven times in three years. - --- MAP posted-by: Greg