REPORT LINKS SINGLE FATHERS, KIDS' DRUG USE

Sixth-to 12th-graders who live in single-father homes are more likely than
others to use drugs, according to a survey released Thursday.

The survey, done by a division of an Atlanta-based anti-drug organization,
also found that high-schoolers' use of such drugs as heroin, Ecstasy and
marijuana increased, reversing a three-year decline in overall drug use.
Meanwhile, cigarette and alcohol use dropped to a 13-year low.

The survey was conducted at schools that contracted with PRIDE Surveys, an
arm of the Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education, to question
students during the 2000-2001 academic year. More than 75,000 students
nationwide answered questionnaires.

This was the 14th annual survey, but officials said it was the first time
their group broke down the numbers to look at children who live with their
mothers only, fathers only and stepparents.

The survey found that 38.4 percent of students who lived with their fathers
only said they used drugs. The percentages for other family structures
were: father and stepmother, 31.9 percent; mother and stepfather, 29.8
percent; mother only, 28.3 percent; and both parents, 20.4 percent.

Thomas Gleaton, who headed the study, said the results aren't meant to bash
fathers. "I don't want people to think, 'Oh that means these are bad
fathers,' " said Gleaton, president of PRIDE Surveys.

Rather, Gleaton believes the results are a comment on the importance of a
mother's role. "The farther the mother gets away, the more difficult it
becomes for the child," Gleaton said.

In terms of drug use, the new survey found that 35.3 percent of ninth- to
12th-graders said they had used any illicit drug in the last year, compared
with 34.3 percent in 1999-2000.

Gleaton said the increase was statistically significant but added that he
was not alarmed because a one-year increase does not necessarily point to a
trend.

Sidebar:

Teen drinking

Young people in Europe are not more responsible about drinking alcohol than
youngsters in the United States, according to a Justice Department report
released Thursday. A comparison found:

A greater percentage of European youths report drinking alcohol in the last
30 days than American youngsters.

A greater percentage of young people in Europe report having five or more
drinks in a row.

About half of European countries have intoxication rates among young people
that are higher than intoxication rates in the United States.

The data disputes the notion that more liberal drinking age policies in
Europe foster more responsible habits among young people, the department said.