DRUG, ALCOHOL USE BY TEEN-AGERS DROPS

SACRAMENTO -- Overall drug and alcohol use by California school students has
declined for the first time in nearly a decade, according to newly released
results from a survey of 12,777 students statewide.

But the study of seventh-, ninth- and 11th-graders during the 1999-2000
school year also contains some troubling news, including an increase in
heroin experimentation among 11th-graders and constant percentages of
students who admit to being heavy drug and alcohol users.

Still, top state officials said Monday that they are encouraged by the
overall drop in drug use and drinking among California students. They also
vowed to continue to push prevention programs such as mentoring, drug
education lessons and firm action against liquor stores that sell to minors.

The study is the eighth biennial California Student Survey sponsored by
several state agencies. The survey is confidential and anonymous and
requires parental consent for students to take part, according to state
Department of Justice officials.

The survey's preliminary findings from the 1999-2000 school year show that
35 percent of seventh-graders, 52 percent of ninth-graders and 66 percent of
11th-graders reported drinking at least some alcohol during the previous six
months. That's a substantial decline from the percentage who reported
similar drinking in 1997-98.

As for illicit drug use, the findings from the 1999-2000 school year show
that 20 percent of seventh-graders, 26 percent of ninth-graders and 39
percent of 11th-grade students reported using an illegal drug at least once
during the previous six months. That compares to 27 percent of
seventh-graders, 43 percent of ninth-graders and 49 percent of 11th-graders
in 1997-98.

In addition, the percentage of students reporting total abstinence increased
substantially for the first time.

Marijuana use also dropped significantly among ninth- and 11th-grade
students. But the number of 11th-graders reporting heroin use increased from
1.7 percent in 1997-98 to 5.2 percent in 1999-2000.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer said the increase in heroin experimentation
may be partly attributable to the availability of smokeable heroin.

"It is still extraordinarily addictive," he said.

Officials still are concerned about a general acceptance of drinking and
marijuana use. About 80 percent of 11th-graders said both alcohol and
marijuana are fairly easy to obtain.

The new survey also recorded some overall downward trends in tobacco use.
Among seventh-graders, 7 percent reported smoking during the previous 30
days, compared to 11 percent in 1997-98. Among ninth-graders, the percentage
dropped to 13 percent from 23 percent. Among 11th-graders, the percentage
dropped to 21 percent from 27 percent.

Survey officials say some of the 1999-2000 results may have been partly
influenced by changes in the wording of some of the questions when the
survey was expanded to provide statewide results comparable to the state's
new Healthy Kids Survey.

On the Net: Department of Justice, caag.state.ca.us