QUEBEC PARENTS WORRY LESS ABOUT DRUGS: STUDY

Quebecers 'More Tolerant Of Marijuana Use' By Teens

According to a new federal government survey, Quebec's distinct
society extends to parental attitudes toward illicit drug use by youth.

Nationally, the survey of 850 parents with children between the ages
of 13 and 15 found that nine in 10 think drug use and experimentation
among young people is a serious problem.

While the survey report doesn't provide a breakdown by province, it
says Quebec parents are less likely than those in other parts of
Canada to see drug experimentation, or even the occasional use of
illicit drugs, as very serious.

In particular, in says, Quebec parents "are more tolerant of marijuana
use, even regular use, and are less likely to see marijuana as harmful."

The survey found Quebecers are more inclined to expect their children
will experiment with drugs, less likely to have spoken to them about
drugs and less likely to think they should raise the subject unless
there is a clear problem.

And while two-thirds of parents nationally believe there is more drug
use among youth today than when they were young, Quebecers again are
less inclined to agree.

The Environics survey was commissioned by Health Canada as part of the
federal government's national anti-drug strategy. Its initial phase
targets parents in a media campaign designed to raise awareness of the
dangers of drug use by youth.

The survey found parents' perception of potential harm from illicit
drugs increases with the frequency of use. While about eight in 10
think trying drugs once or twice is serious, that rises to 97 per cent
if drugs are used on a regular basis.

Parents generally are less likely to believe that non-regular use of
marijuana is harmful. Seven in 10 say the potential harm of trying
marijuana once or twice is serious. But almost all express alarm at
the potential harm of regular marijuana use.

Based on those results, the survey report concludes, "educational
messages that focus on the easy availability of marijuana and ecstasy
. as well as those that stress the harm associated with marijuana
use, may be effective in addressing these awareness deficits."

Among all parents, 95 per cent say they have discussed the dangers of
drugs with their child, including eight in 10 within the past three
months. One-third say they have such discussions regularly. But
two-thirds don't think drug experimentation is likely to be an issue
with their own child.

The survey was conducted between Feb. 12 and March 2, and has a margin
of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, 19 times in 20.