Bicycle Mechanics - Pulling back on brake levers...??

I noticed today when I was cruising downhill that my brake lever was pulling all the way back so it was touching the drop portion of my handlebar. Is this normal? Do I need to adjust this and if so, how do I do that? I would like to able to apply less "pressure" on the handlebar in order for it to start braking, and also I want to leave my fingers on the drops while braking so they don't get between the lever and the handlebar. Thanks!

If Campa, make sure that the release button in in the correct position.

Assuming your brake pads are not worn away to nothing, your brakes most likely do require adjustment. As gmason correctly points out, make sure the device which allows the brake pads to move apart to facilitate tire/wheel removal is in the "non remove" position.
I am assuming you have caliper brakes, which are typical on road bikes.
Locate where the brake cable is clamped onto one of the arms of the brakes. Follow the bare cable up to where it goes into a threaded piece. That threaded piece is turned to adjust the brakes.
You can make it easier to turn the piece by squeezing the brake pads toward eachother.
If you have to move the brake lever even further to engage the brake after adjusting, you turned the piece the wrong way.
happy decelerating

If Campa, make sure that the release button in in the correct position.
Campy brake levers with the qr button in the lever don't effect how close the lever gets to the bar when the release is used. They allow the lever to move farther from bar to get the calipers to open wider. If you leave these releases open the reach to the lever is greater but it doesn't travel closer to the bars when you apply the brakes.

Shimano brakes that have the qr on the caliper will allow the lever to get closer to the bars if left open.