HIGH SCHOOL, INDEED

Drug, Alcohol Use Continue To Climb Among Teenagers

When it comes to drugs and alcohol, many Manitoba kids refuse to just
say no.

"We have not won the drug war. Kids are still using drugs and over the
past five years it's increased," said John Borody, Addictions
Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) CEO.

Yesterday, the AFM released a survey of substance use among high
school students in the province.

Of the 4,680 students from 32 schools throughout Manitoba who
responded to the survey, 81% reported drinking alcohol in the past
year, while 40% used drugs and 40% smoked cigarettes.

Tobacco use was the only statistic to decrease since the last survey
in 1997 when 47% of students said they smoked.

Pot Common

Alcohol use has increased by 2%, while the use of drugs other than
tobacco and alcohol increased by 3%. The most common drug used was
marijuana.

Kids are living in a world where the use of alcohol, drugs and
stimulants -- such as tobacco and caffeine -- are normal and used
daily by many people in society, including children's parents, said
Dr. Dave Brown, AFM director of research.

The use of drugs was once considered rebellious, but now it's a way of
fitting in, Brown said.

"I don't think students see drug use as immoral," he
said.

Many kids first try alcohol and tobacco at 13 and start experimenting
with marijuana at 14, the survey found.

Officials at the AFM say the results of the survey show they have to
start teaching kids about the risks of drug and alcohol use at a
younger age instead of in high school. But then, many have already
developed the habits and are less susceptible to the message.

The AFM realizes kids are going to do drugs and alcohol no matter
what, so the organization has been combining its abstinence message
with what it calls a "harm-reduction" approach by informing students
of the health risks so they can make educated decisions, Borody said.

"Although abstinence would be a nice goal I don't think it's a
reasonable goal, it's more about getting across the message of
responsible behavior," he said. "The better you educate them on the
risk of drugs, the less the acceptance," he said.

Students interviewed at a North End high school weren't surprised by
the findings of the survey.

Stephanie Phillips and her friend, Ashley Crocker, both 16, said
attitudes toward alcohol and drugs have changed among students, who
get into drugs and alcohol because of peer pressure and the
availability of the products.

"More people do it just to be cool -- it's the cool thing to do,"
Crocker said.

"It's harder to fit in if you don't do it. I don't know anybody that
doesn't drink," Phillips added.

For many kids, marijuana is now more attractive than
tobacco.

'Most of the people I know would rather smoke dope than cigarettes,"
Phillips added.

And getting drugs and alcohol isn't a problem, no matter how old you
are, another student said.

"I can go in there right now and get you pot," said Adam, 18, who
didn't want his last name used. "It's easy to get and you can always
find someone to buy you alcohol."