SOUTH JERSEY TOO HIGH ON LISTS OF BAD HABITS

Those in the region with drug, gambling and tobacco problems need to get help.

As a new year begins, South Jerseyans have some life-wrecking and
even potentially fatal habits that should be addressed.

To trivialize them as the sort of resolutions most of us
halfheartedly make then break at the start of each year wouldn't be right.

No, educators, law enforcers and parents in our region need to make a
commitment to do more to prevent kids from succumbing to substance
and gambling addictions. Adults consumed by these vices, especially
those looking for a way to quit, need to be made aware of the
resources out there to help them. Then they must have the conviction
to take advantage of that help.

Why should South Jerseyans be singled out? Because the recently
released 2003 New Jersey Household Survey on Drug Use and Health,
which polled 14,660 households around the state, painted a disturbing
picture of how South Jerseyans compare to the rest of New Jersey.

South Jerseyans are more likely to use illegal drugs, smoke and have
a gambling problem than those in the rest of the state.

Drugs

Among New Jersey's 21 counties, Camden had the highest percentage of
residents reporting they had used illegal drugs in the past year --
9.1 percent. Gloucester County was second on that list with 8.6
percent of its residents reporting they'd used illegal drugs in the past year.

Statewide, just 6 percent of New Jerseyans reported using drugs in
the past year. In Burlington County, just 4.8 percent of residents
reported using illegal drugs, putting the county near the bottom of the list.

Gloucester County was also tied with Ocean County for the largest
spike in heroin use, findings that prompted the state to announce
that methadone clinics to treat heroin addicts would be opened in
each of those counties.

Overall, the study found that 5 percent of New Jersey's young adults
have used heroin as compared with 2 percent nationally.

Heroin is one of the deadliest and most addicting drugs there is, so
data such as this is troubling.

Parents, educators and law enforcers around the region clearly need
to do more to keep kids from experimenting with heroin and other
dangerous illegal drugs. These role models also must do more to teach
South Jersey kids who don't use drugs to encourage their friends who
are using to get help or to quit.

Likewise, friends and family members of adult drug users need to do
everything they can to convince drug users to get help before they
ruin their lives. There are numerous in-patient and out-patient
programs in the region for drug abusers.

Smoking

While legal, smoking is another habit that can kill and,
unfortunately, it seems South Jersey residents are more likely than
other New Jerseyans to smoke.

The eight counties that make up the southern part of the state were
among the top nine counties where the highest percentage of residents
said they smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.

Cape May County was tops on the list with 27.4 percent of those
surveyed saying they smoked. Burlington and Camden counties were
third and fourth on the list at 24.9 percent and 24.5 percent
respectively. Gloucester County was sixth at 23.8 percent.

To compare, overall, 21 percent of New Jerseyans said they smoked
cigarettes in the past 30 days. In Morris County, just 14.5 percent
of residents said they'd smoked.

With the dangers of smoking well known, it's likely many South
Jerseyans who smoke are either planning to quit in the near future or
are trying to quit now.

We encourage those who want to end their potentially fatal addiction
to cigarettes to get help. Quitting alone can be difficult. But with
the help of others who know the struggles of quitting, the chance of
breaking the habit for good could be increased. We encourage those
who want to quit to call or visit the Web site of one of the groups
listed in the adjoining list.

Furthermore, we encourage those who aren't thinking of quitting to
educate themselves as to just how deadly their habit is to themselves
and those closest to them.

Gambling

Camden and Gloucester counties also topped another unfortunate list
in the survey: percentage of residents with a gambling problem.

Camden County topped the state with 5.1 percent of residents
admitting to having a gambling problem at least once in their lives.
Gloucester County was second with 4.7 percent saying they'd had a
gambling problem. Burlington County, at 3.4 percent of residents
admitting a gambling problem, was closer to the statewide average of 3 percent.

Certainly, our region's proximity to Atlantic City's casinos means
those with gambling problems can more easily place a bet.

Without help, those hooked on gambling often only get worse,
eventually betting nearly everything they have and ruining their
lives in the process.

Yet those who are addicted often deny they have a problem and are
resistant to getting help. If you know someone who has a gambling
problem, don't be afraid to confront them about it and push them to
attend Gambler's Anonymous meetings.

With the national poker boom turning more young New Jerseyans into
gamblers, this is a problem that will only get worse. Those who know
someone with a gambling problem need to do everything possible to
make sure he or she gets help before it's too late.

It's unfortunate to see that residents in this region are among the
most likely in the state to engage in such unhealthy habits that have
the potential to ruin lives. We hope that those who are hopelessly
addicted to these vices, whether it's on their own or with a push
from a friend or family member, will take advantage of the resources
listed here and get help to break that addiction.

A great new year for South Jersey would be one in which those who
want to break their addictions finally do so.