News (Media Awareness Project) - US LA: Editorial: Try To Stop Drug Abuse |
| Title: | US LA: Editorial: Try To Stop Drug Abuse |
| Published On: | 2002-03-21 |
| Source: | Daily World, The (LA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-30 22:03:53 |
TRY TO STOP DRUG ABUSE
Substance Abuse Persists With a Virulence Akin to Many Other Diseases
A report delivered to the Opelousas mayor and board of aldermen by St.
Landry Parish Access to Success representatives detailed a startling level
of alcohol, drug and tobacco use among children.
St. Landry Parish students matched or surpassed the usage level or other
students in the state, according to a survey done by the state Department
of Health and Hospitals in 2001.
Statewide, 36 percent of sixth-graders in the state had tried alcohol
compared to nearly 50 percent of St. Landry Parish sixth-graders. Four
percent of the parish's sixth-graders reportedly smoke a pack of cigarettes
a day.
About 43 percent of 12th-graders here say they regularly binge drink
compared to 32 percent statewide.
About 12 percent of the parish 12th-graders reported trying marijuana
compared to 11 percent statewide. About 25 percent of the parish's
12th-graders report using marijuana at least once per month compared to 19
percent statewide.
About 4 percent of the parish 12th-graders report using cocaine at least
once a month.
Our culture here promotes a degree of substance abuse. Look no further than
Mardi Gras or many other festivals to see alcohol abuse. The openness is
part of the fun-loving culture, but it can be dangerous in the example it
sets for youths.
As with tobacco, a steady message to the public about the dangers of
substance abuse can be effective. Children and young adults need that message.
For a culture where substance abuse looms as a ever-present danger,
measures such as the recently instituted drug court in St. Landry Parish
are needed. Substance abuse treatment programs must be readily available.
Closing of the University Medical Center's detoxification unit in Lafayette
this week is an example of how the state appears to be ignoring the needs
of its residents. Given the statistics, the state ought to rethink closing
the unit.
The statistics from the students point to an ever-growing substance abuse
problem. The state and this area must plan to use all the tools available
to stem the tide.
Substance Abuse Persists With a Virulence Akin to Many Other Diseases
A report delivered to the Opelousas mayor and board of aldermen by St.
Landry Parish Access to Success representatives detailed a startling level
of alcohol, drug and tobacco use among children.
St. Landry Parish students matched or surpassed the usage level or other
students in the state, according to a survey done by the state Department
of Health and Hospitals in 2001.
Statewide, 36 percent of sixth-graders in the state had tried alcohol
compared to nearly 50 percent of St. Landry Parish sixth-graders. Four
percent of the parish's sixth-graders reportedly smoke a pack of cigarettes
a day.
About 43 percent of 12th-graders here say they regularly binge drink
compared to 32 percent statewide.
About 12 percent of the parish 12th-graders reported trying marijuana
compared to 11 percent statewide. About 25 percent of the parish's
12th-graders report using marijuana at least once per month compared to 19
percent statewide.
About 4 percent of the parish 12th-graders report using cocaine at least
once a month.
Our culture here promotes a degree of substance abuse. Look no further than
Mardi Gras or many other festivals to see alcohol abuse. The openness is
part of the fun-loving culture, but it can be dangerous in the example it
sets for youths.
As with tobacco, a steady message to the public about the dangers of
substance abuse can be effective. Children and young adults need that message.
For a culture where substance abuse looms as a ever-present danger,
measures such as the recently instituted drug court in St. Landry Parish
are needed. Substance abuse treatment programs must be readily available.
Closing of the University Medical Center's detoxification unit in Lafayette
this week is an example of how the state appears to be ignoring the needs
of its residents. Given the statistics, the state ought to rethink closing
the unit.
The statistics from the students point to an ever-growing substance abuse
problem. The state and this area must plan to use all the tools available
to stem the tide.
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