SURVEY PROFILES STUDENT DRUG USE

Waterford Officials to Discuss Results

Waterford -- Local officials and school representatives will meet
tonight to discuss the results of a drug-and-alcohol survey that was
given to middle school and high school students at the end of last
school year.

The main findings of the survey were that there is a significant
increase in the consumption of drugs and alcohol between middle
school and high school; teenagers are experimenting with drugs and
alcohol but most are not persistent users; and smokers are more
likely to use drugs and alcohol.

The average age of trying alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana was 13
to 14 years old.

State Sen. Andrea Stillman and Rep. Betsy Ritter, First Selectman
Daniel Steward, school Superintendent Randall Collins, police Chief
Murray Pendleton and the consultant for the survey, Archie Swindell,
will present the results of the 2006 Drug Abuse Prevention Youth
Survey and answer questions from the public from 6 until 7:30 p.m.
in the Town Hall auditorium.

Half of the students in grades 7 through 10 took the online survey
from May 30 until June 8. The students were randomly selected from
each class, for a total of 519 participants. The survey was similar
to those given in other towns, such as Groton and Norwich.

Susan Radway, director of the town's Youth Services Bureau, said
towns are conducting surveys because the state and federal
government is asking for data to support grant requests. The
Waterford survey was funded by a grant from the Ledge Light Health
District and the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention coalition.

"You need to know what the issue is in your community and you need
to have factual data to show why you develop the programs that you
do," Radway said. "When you don't have local facts, it's easy for
people to say 'That's not us, it's not our community.' We found that
Waterford is like other communities around. ...

"This is not just a young person's issue, it's an adult issue too,"
Radway said. "It's access. You can't drink alcohol or smoke
cigarettes if you don't have access, and adults are responsible for
that access."

The findings include the fact that a majority of teens are involved
in an after-school sport or exercise programs; cigarette smoking is
lower than the national average; and teens perceive the risk of
smoking cigarettes as significant.

Radway said the town needs to focus on educational programs during
the transition from middle school to high school and implement
smoking-cessation programs and additional after-school programs.

Steward said he hopes the survey will raise awareness in the community.

"Children have a way of accessing alcohol and drugs," he said. "The
challenge is to find a way to keep them from doing illegal things.
We need other alternatives for children to do to keep them active
and away from alcohol and drugs."