LEGAL DRUGS CALLED KIDS' TOP RISK

Crack cocaine and crystal meth may scare parents, but it's alcohol,
tobacco and marijuana that are doing the most harm to young people,
say experts.

National Addiction Awareness Week, which runs until Saturday, is a
reminder for parents to talk to their children about drug use, said
Cheryl Houtekamer of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

"There's a small likelihood they (young people) will run into crystal
meth, but we know almost for certain they will run into alcohol and
tobacco," Houtekamer said.

While only one per cent of Alberta youth in grades 7 to 12 have used
crystal meth, about two-thirds have used alcohol and one-quarter have
used marijuana, a 2005 survey suggests.

Delaying a youth's first use of alcohol from age 15 to 18 does "a
tremendous amount" to prevent a long-term problem with alcohol,
Houtekamer said.