PAINKILLER ABUSE ON THE RISE

Decline In Student Drug Use 'Leveling Off'

A decade-long decline in alcohol and drug use by students seems to be
leveling off, and a significant number are illegally using
prescription painkillers, according to a state survey released Wednesday.

The results of the 2005-06 California Student Survey showed alcohol
and drug use among ninth- and 11th-graders generally decreased about 1
percent to 2 percent from the last survey in 2003-04. That is a
significant slowdown from the nearly 17 percent decline in reported
beer consumption by 11th-graders between 1996 and 2004.

The study also revealed students are misusing painkillers such as
OxyContin and Percodan at twice the reported rate of any other drug
besides marijuana and alcohol.

"We have made some real inroads with reductions over many years, but
the current results show some leveling off that we will have to pay
some attention to," said Greg Austin, one of the survey
researchers.

The slowing decline indicates anti-drug and alcohol campaigns at
schools have reached their maximum potential in reducing overall drug
use, leaving officials with the task of concentrating on students who
are heavy drug or alcohol users, said Greg Austin, one of the survey
researchers.

A state-mandated poll conducted every two years, the survey targeted
more than 10,000 randomly selected students at 50 middle schools and
63 high schools in California. The survey, conducted since 1985, is
used by state education officials and district administrators to
evaluate the effects of anti-drug and alcohol programs and to develop
new approaches to combating drug use in schools.

While the survey showed continued decreases in drug use at higher
grade levels, the outlook on junior high school students was not as
reassuring.

According to the survey, beer consumption among seventh-graders
increased by nearly 2percent, from 16.7 percent to 18.5 percent, over
the last two years, while marijuana use increased from 6.1 percent to
7.3 percent.

By comparison, the amount of 11th-graders reporting to have used
marijuana in the previous six months declined by less than 1 percent -
from 30.5percent to 29.8 percent - between 2004 and 2006, after having
dropped by about 12percent over the previous eight years.

While slight, the increases in drug and alcohol use among junior high
schoolers should not be ignored, said Austin, who did the survey for
the government on behalf of WestEd, a nonprofit public agency
dedicated to educational research and development.

"The uptick in seventh-grade use is one of the more worrisome
findings," Austin said.

On illicit use of prescription drugs, the survey showed that 14
percent of 11th-graders and 9percent of ninth-graders reported using
painkiller medication in the past six months.

It was the first time that the survey questioned students on
prescription drug use. Austin suggested the new category might be
behind an increase in the use of any illegal drugs by 11th-graders, up
to 45 percent from 43 percent since 2003.

But the results on prescription drug use did not surprise El Monte
Union High School District Assistant Superintendent Nick Salerno.

"There was a big issue at my son's high school his junior year where
kids were using prescription drugs, and students got kicked off sports
teams because of it," said Salerno, whose son attends another high
school district.

But the problem is likely present at his district, as well, Salerno
conceded.

"I am sure that there are situations with it; any school that says
there isn't is either lying or has its head in the sand," he said.
"But we haven't had any major incidents with here."

The survey also showed that one-fifth of all 11th-graders are binge
drinkers, defined as those who consume five or more drinks in one
sitting at least once a month. Nearly a fifth are regular marijuana
users or "high-rate" drug users, and over one in 10 are regular binge
drinkers or marijuana users, meaning they abuse pot or alcohol on
three or more days each month.

Overall, the survey suggests that one-fifth of students could use some
sort of intervention program for their drug and alcohol use, and that
one in 10 are dependent on alcohol or drugs.

At El Monte Union, those targeted efforts have taken the shape of the
district's Community Day School, where students who have been expelled
for drug problems are rehabilitated.

"We put in things in like random drug testing, drug and family
counseling, police and community service programs," said Salerno,
adding that Community Day School has about a 75percent success rate
for students with drug problems.

At the district's high schools, there are counseling groups,
therapists and school nurses to help students.

"Our message to students is, 'If you have a problem, let us know; we
want to help you before you get in trouble,"' Salerno said.