CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY SHOWS KIDS ABUSE A VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES

Almost half of the Tennessee high school students responding to a random poll
say they've smoked marijuana, and 12% of them admit they tried it before their
13th birthday.

Fewer than 5% say they've snorted cocaine, shot up with heroine, sniffed glue
or inhaled fumes from paints or sprays to get high, a statewide youth survey
shows.

Slightly more say they've experimented with either Ecstasy or methamphetamines
or used steroid pills or shots without a doctor's prescription.

The 2003 survey asked almost 2,000 students from randomly selected high schools
to be honest about their use of illegal substances in exchange for total
confidentiality.

''Student participation is completely volunteer,'' said Jerry Swaim, director
of comprehensive school health education for the State Department of Education.
''It's completely anonymous. We don't ask any personally identifying
information.''

Swaim coordinates Tennessee's participation in the national Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention survey, which has been given every other year since
1991. Many school systems use the survey results to identify trends in
substance abuse.

The numbers have declined slowly during the past decade, officials said.

''One of the reasons we do the Youth Risk Behavior Survey is to stay informed
of the health-risk behavior that kids are engaging in,'' said Swaim, noting
that 44 high schools participated across the state. ''We spread the information
out to every organization we feel could benefit.''

Among illegal drugs, pot appears to be the most popular among high school
students. While 43% say they've tried it, only 4% say they've smoked it on
school property.

''The drug of choice for our young people is marijuana,'' said Maj. Bill
Kennedy, who oversees youth prevention efforts for the Rutherford County
Sheriff's Department. ''We've seen harder drugs in our schools, but it's very
infrequent.''

But among all illegal substances, alcohol is the most prevalent. Nearly 75% of
students admit to having tried it; 41% say they've had a drink recently.

''Alcohol use is very much a part of our society,'' Swaim said.