TEEN USE OF HEROIN DOWN

But seniors report increase in abuse of other narcotics; Binge drinking
'alarming'

Although fewer Carroll teen-agers are using heroin, county teens continue
to have a higher rate of drug and alcohol use than their Maryland peers,
according to a survey presented to Carroll's Board of Education yesterday.

Heroin use among the county's 12th-graders dropped from 2 percent to 1.1
percent during a 30-day period measured in 1998 and again this year,
according to the 2001 Maryland Adolescent Survey released by educators this
week. Statewide, fewer than 1 percent of 12th-graders used heroin during a
30-day period this year, according to the survey.

But the survey also reported that use of narcotics other than heroin (such
as the prescription drug OxyContin) among Carroll graduated seniors during
the 30-day period more than doubled to 7.3 percent of students.

In the late 1990s, community emphasis on the heroin problem in Carroll
sparked a statewide response and national recognition for the county's
prevention efforts. Even so, six people died of heroin-related overdoses
last year in Carroll, according to medical examiner reports collected by
George Butler of the Carroll County state's attorney's office.

Although cigarette and alcohol use by Carroll teens generally has decreased
since 1998, the growing popularity of Ecstasy, LSD, prescription narcotics
and binge drinking has educators and others who work with students concerned.

"Our current use of heroin decreasing is gratifying," said Joanne M. Hayes,
Carroll's substance-abuse prevention school-community coordinator. "It's
still alarming to note that more than 50 percent of last year's seniors
reported that they have had five or more drinks on one occasion."

Alcohol remained the drug most abused by Carroll respondents who had ever
used illegal substances. In Carroll, 58.4 percent of 12th-graders said they
had engaged in binge drinking at least once. The statewide number was 52.3
percent.

Between 1998 and this year, alcohol use by Carroll 12th-graders during the
past 30 days decreased from 57.2 percent to 49 percent.

In the survey, educators asked sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders
whether they had used specific substances ever, in the past 30 days and in
the past 12 months.

In general, Carroll sixth-graders used drugs and alcohol less frequently
than their Maryland peers, but by 12th grade, drug abuse among Carroll
students exceeded the state average.

Highlights from the survey include:

LSD use by Carroll sixth-graders doubled since the 1998 survey to 0.8 percent.

Carroll sixth-graders reported no use of designer drugs, but use of such
drugs in other grades increased. Use of Ecstasy and other designer drugs by
Carroll seniors during the past 30 days increased from 2.8 percent two
years ago to 6.4 percent this year. Statewide, 4.6 percent of 12th-graders
reported using designer drugs.

Cigarette smoking among Carroll's eighth-graders during the past 30 days
decreased from 14.3 percent to 8.5 percent.

The biennial survey of students in the sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades
is used to determine trends in use of tobacco and other drugs in Maryland.
In Carroll, 1,696 students were surveyed in March. Information gathered by
the survey is used to tailor countywide drug prevention programs, Hayes said.

Carroll educators, law enforcement officials and social service providers
who attended the presentation credited the drop in heroin, alcohol and
cigarette use to school- and community-based programs. They renewed their
resolve to adapt programs to address trends in drug use.

"The good news is the programs we have in place are working," said Lt.
Terry Katz, barracks commander for Westminster State Police. "However, in
this business, we can't be static."