STARTLING STUDY ABOUT STUDENTS

The Study's Numbers Are Startling.

Despite years of government-funded media campaigns urging teenagers to
stay 'clean and sober,' a recent federal study indicates the use of
cocaine, marijuana and cigarettes is on the rise.

The study, released this past week by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, used statistics from over 15,000 students in
grades 9-12.

In 1991, 14.7 percent of students surveyed said they use marijuana.
That number climbed to 26.7 percent in 1999. In 1991, 1.7 percent of
students surveyed said they used cocaine at least once in the prior
month. That number more than doubled to 4 percent in 1999.

It appears students are smoking more cigarettes, as
well.

In 1991, 27.5 percent of student surveyed said they smoked at least
once in the previous month. That number rose to 36.4 percent in 1997,
though dropped slightly to 34.8 percent in 1999.

Those are alarming numbers, especially all that is now known about the
dangers of tobacco use.

More must be done to ensure the next time this study is done - in 2001
- - these numbers fall.