WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- President Bush reflected on his own struggle with alcohol in a White House meeting Thursday that touted gains in the war on drug abuse . President Bush speaks about his administration 's efforts in fighting drug abuse at the White House on Thursday . CNN was the only media outlet invited to attend the entire meeting , which other reporters joined in the final minutes for remarks from the president . Several in the room , including Don Coyhis of Colorado Springs , Colorado , who runs a program targeting Native Americans battling substance abuse , were recovered addicts or alcoholics . Bush , who quit drinking at the age of 40 , was impressed . `` Congratulations on 30 years of sobriety , '' the president told Coyhis . `` I 'm eight years behind you . '' The president told the group of 14 -- all leaders in drug prevention , treatment and interdiction programs across the country -- that a new study shows teen drug abuse has dropped 25 percent since he took office in 2001 . `` No question there 's still work to do in America , but we are making progress , '' Bush said . But the study by the University of Michigan cautioned that progress could be threatened by a drop in the percentage of young people who think marijuana is harmful . And it found that a high percentage of teens are abusing prescription drugs , with nearly 10 percent of high school seniors reporting using Vicodin over the past year and nearly 5 percent abusing OxyContin . Bush listened to participants ' stories and shared some candid moments . Professional baseball player Josh Hamilton , who once suffered from a debilitating drug addiction , talked about seeking help from eight treatment centers . `` They did n't work for me , '' he said . It was n't until his grandmother confronted him while he was high on drugs that something clicked . `` That moment cleared my mind , opened my heart , and that following night I committed my life to Christ , '' Hamilton said . The president praised the effectiveness of the programs represented , most private and faith-based . `` I 'm a faith-based guy , '' Bush explained . `` Sometimes , to help change a person 's behavior , you have to change their heart . Government 's not really good at that . '' Former New Orleans District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. talked about why he was motivated to launch a student drug testing program that has now spread to 20 city high schools . Over his nearly 30-year-career , Connick said , `` I sent a lot of people to the penitentiary . But at one point I thought , this is not enough . '' The father of singer Harry Connick Jr. maintained that the best way to reduce demand for drugs is to test high school students . Dr. Katie McQueen advocated more careful screening of patients for substance abuse by hospitals and doctors . `` Of the millions of people who need help , most do n't get it because they do n't think they need it , '' McQueen explained . When McQueen announced that her Houston program was based in `` the great state of Texas , '' Bush interrupted with a broad smile , `` I 'll be home in about -- but who 's counting -- 39 days . '' Dr. Nora Volkow , director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse , discussed research showing that 50 percent of a person 's vulnerability to drug addiction is genetic . Bush asked whether the same was true of alcohol abuse . `` There 's clearly a genetic component , '' Volkow responded . `` That 's why prevention is so important . '' Lt. Mike Boudreaux of the Tulare County Sheriff 's Department described his battle to eradicate marijuana fields on California public lands . `` It 's a daunting task , '' Boudreaux said of the efforts , which often involve confronting Mexican drug dealers intent on protecting their hidden fields . Boudreaux added that his mother often prays for the president . `` One of the most striking aspects of being president is the power of prayer in my life . I feel it , '' Bush said . `` Some days are happy . Some days are not so happy . But every day is joyous . ''
President Bush discussed gains in the war on drug abuse . `` There 's still work to do in America , but we are making progress , '' Bush says . He opened up about his own troubles with alcohol . Bush : `` Some days are happy . Some days are not so happy ''