SURVEY: TEEN DRUG USE HOLDING STEADY

TALLAHASSEE -- A state survey shows drug use among Florida teens
still less than it was at the turn of the decade, but stubbornly
refusing to budge lower.

"That sets the stage" for a new administration to set new strategy,"
Gov. Jeb Bush said this morning, marking the last youth substance
survey of his eight-year administration. The annual survey this
year showed 32 percent of sixth through 12 graders report using
alcohol -- a seven percent decline since 2000.

Smoking is down to 10.6 percent -- below even marijuana use, which is
at 11.4 percent.

However, the use of anti-depressants and other pharmaceuticals
continues to rise, particularly among girls. Six years ago, 1.5
percent of girls surveyed reported using depressants in the past 30
days. In 2006, that had increased to 2.8 percent.

Bush related the climb in part to social acceptance and heavy
marketing of behavior- and mood-altering drugs. "We are an
over-prescribing society," the governor said.

Shortly after taking office in 1999, Bush set a goal for his
administration to reduce overall drug use by half. Each year, the
state has conducted a "Youth Substance Abuse Survey," this year
involving more than 57,000 kids in sixth through 12th grades, who are
asked if they have smoked, drank or taken any illegal drugs in the past month.

Bill Janes, head of the governor's drug-policy office, said the
survey has built-in trick questions to trip up students who try to
either exaggerate or minimize what's going on. Since 2000, the survey
has shown declines in the use of heroin, ecstasy and LSD, as well as
in the use of cigarettes and alcohol.

This year, 12 of the 21 categories measured current use below 2 percent.

Findings from this year's survey include:

* Heroin use declined 50 percent since 2000 to 0.4 percent.

* Ecstasy use fell 57 percent since 2001, to 1.2 percent.

* LSD/PCP is down 73 percent since 2000, at 0.8 percent.

* Crack cocaine use declined 25 percent since 2000. Current use rate
is 0.6 percent.

* Cigarette smoking declined 42 percent since 2000. Current use rate
is 10.6 percent.

* Marijuana use declined 21 percent since 2000. Current use rate is
11.4 percent.

* Alcohol use declined 7 percent since 2000. Current use rate is 32
percent. But booze remains the most common form of substance abuse
among the young.

The full survey can be viewed on the Internet at
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/publications/fysas/