BAY AREA SOARS ABOVE REST OF NATION IN RECREATIONAL DRUG USE

SAN FRANCISCO - Bay Area residents use more drugs than any other
metropolitan area in the country, and medical marijuana could be part
of the reason, according to officials.

The percentage of people interviewed who had used marijuana, cocaine
or heroin in the Bay Area, which included Fremont and Oakland, was
12.7 percent -- 3 percent higher than Seattle, the second
highest-ranking area with 9.6 percent.

The study, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, surveyed people ages 12 and older in 15 major
metropolitan areas such as New York and Chicago and asked if they had
participated in drug use, cigarette smoking or binge drinking a month
prior to being interviewed.

The Bay Area's drug results were higher than expected, according to
Jim Stillwell, San Francisco County's Alcohol and Drug Program
administrator.

"San Francisco has always been high, but I'm surprised that it's that
much higher than the others," Stillwell said.

One of the reasons the percentage might be so high, according to Alice
Gleghorn, deputy director of behavioral health services in San
Francisco's Department of Public Health, may be medical marijuana.

"The numbers could be high because of medical marijuana, which the
federal government would still classify as illicit drug use," Gleghorn
said.

She added that the survey failed to get any more specific on the types
of drug being used by those who were interviewed.

Gleghorn said another reason for the high numbers might be related to
the excellent growing conditions for marijuana in California.

"You can't use what you don't have," she said.

While the Bay Area may be pro-marijuana, it isn't crazy about
cigarettes. The region tied with Los Angeles with the lowest
percentage of cigarette smokers, 17.9 percent. The national average is
25.3 percent.

John Newmeyer, epidemiologist for the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, said
he has watched marijuana become part of The City's cultural norm the
last 35 years. And when it comes down to it, he said, smoking pot is
safer than cigarettes.

"There is a low level of people reporting to hospitals and treatment
facilities because of it," he said, adding that the real problem to
watch for might be within methamphetamine use.