CANNABIS USE BY TEENS TRIPLES IN OUTAOUAIS

West Quebec Youth Also More Likely to Use Designer Drugs, Hallucinogens

Cannabis use among Outaouais teenagers has tripled since 1991, while the
use of designer drugs such as ecstacy has more than doubled, says an
Outaouais Regional Health and Social Services Board study released yesterday.

A study by researcher Marthe Deschesnes showed cannabis use among girls
reached 35 per cent in 2002, up from 10 per cent in 1991. Cannabis use
among boys increased to 34 per cent in 2002 from 12 per cent in 1991.

The study revealed 19 per cent of boys used cannabis at least once a week
in 2002, compared with five per cent in 1991. Thirteen per cent of girls
used cannabis at least once a week in 2002, compared with three per cent in
1991.

Half of the 12- to 18-year-olds who used cannabis said they consumed the
drug at or on the way to school in 1996. That figure dropped to 40 per cent
for boys and 31 per cent for girls in 2002.

Cannabis use among Outaouais teenagers -- 34 to 35 per cent -- was higher
than in Ontario, where 29 per cent of teenagers use the drug. Ms.
Deschesnes said cannabis is more popular among Outaouais teens because the
drug is more readily available and more acceptable in West Quebec than in
Ontario.

Ms. Deschesnes said the cannabis figures are worrisome because cannabis use
interferes with learning.

"This trend of increasing cannabis use is not unique in the Outaouais," she
said.

"It is a trend we can observe all over Quebec, Ontario and in the United
States. If it is easy to get, usually there is an increase in the number of
people using it. It affects their perceptions, memory and concentration, so
for young people it is very bad, particularly when it comes to learning. It
is like using alcohol -- you don't use alcohol before going to school or to
work because it will affect your performance and you capacity to learn."

Ms. Deschesnes said young people often use cannabis because of a desire to
try something new or be accepted by other teens. She said concerned parents
can discuss cannabis use with their children and schools can develop drug
education programs.

The study showed the use of designer drugs and hallucinogens has increased
to 18 per cent of boys and 14 per cent of girls in 2002, compared with
seven and five per cent respectively in 1991.

The use of cocaine among Outaouais teens has remained virtually unchanged
at 2.4 per cent among boys and 1.6 per cent among girls.

The study showed 33 per cent of Outaouais girls smoke, compared with 22 per
cent of boys. That compares with 41 and 28 per cent respectively in 1996.

Alcohol remains the most popular drug. The study shows 61 per cent of girls
and 58 per cent of boys drink alcohol. In 1991, 53 per cent of girls and 49
per cent of boys drank alcohol.

Dr. Lucie Lemieux, the Outaouais director of public health, said the most
significant change since 1996 is the reduction in tobacco use -- because it
will improve public health.

Dr. Lemieux said reducing the use of cannabis will be part of the regional
plan for public health.

"We want to develop self-esteem among young people, the capacity to resolve
conflict and project oneself into the future. If I want to finish school I
had better do my homework and if I want to do that, I had better be able to
pay attention to what is happening in class."