DRUG USE UP, STUDENTS REPORT

Cocaine, marijuana and cigarette use among high school students
increased during the 1990s, according to a government survey that also
says fewer teens are having sex and those who do are more likely to
use condoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, issued
Thursday, showed improvement in some risky behavior - more students
wear seat belts and fewer are carrying weapons or contemplating suicide.

``There is reason to feel optimistic about many of the trends in risk
behaviors among our young people,'' CDC Director Jeffrey Koplan said.
``However, we have much left to do. Too many of our children are still
engaging in activities that put them at risk for health problems now
and into adulthood.''

The increases in smoking and drug use came despite years of
goverment-funded media campaigns urging teenagers to stay clean and
sober. The drop in sexual activity came during a period in which
health officials urged everyone to practice safe sex to avoid AIDS.

Every two years since 1991, the CDC has distributed questionnaires to
a scientific sampling of students to measure behavior that endangers
their health. This year's survey involved 15,349 students in grades
nine through 12.

In 1991, 14.7 percent of the students surveyed said they use
marijuana. That number steadily increased to 26.7 percent in 1999.
Students reporting they have tried marijuana at least once increased
from 31.3 percent in 1991 to 47.2 percent in 1999.

In 1991, 1.7 percent of the students surveyed said they used cocaine
at least once in the prior month. By 1999 that number rose to 4
percent. Those who had at least tried cocaine increased from 5.9
percent in 1991 to 9.5 percent in 1999.

Howard Simon, spokesman for the New York-based Partnership for a
Drug-Free America, said the past decade brought increased drug use
among teenagers, but he expects new figures in the past year to show
improvement.

Andy Meisner, a spokesman for the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of
America, said the marijuana boom started to trail off in 1997. But he
added that alcohol and tobacco use are also major concerns.

While alcohol use has remained steady since 1991, the student survey
indicates more teens are smoking.

In 1991, 27.5 percent of the students surveyed reported they had
smoked at least once in the previous month. That increased to a high
of 36.4 percent in 1997 then dropped to 34.8 percent in 1999. Frequent
cigarette use gradually climbed from 12.7 percent in 1991 to 16.8
percent in 1999.

In other trends, fewer high school students said they have had sex, a
trend that gradually decreased from 54.1 percent in 1991 to 49.9
percent in 1999. The number of students who said they were currently
sexually active remained fairly consistent since 1991 at around 36
percent. However, more reported using a condom - 58 percent in 1999
compared with 46.2 percent in 1991.