SCARY SURVEY

Drug Use Stats Show That The War Is Far From Over

When you first looked at the headline it sort of took your breath
away: "Oregon drug use tripled in late '90s."

Why the gasp? Increases in drug abuse have been part of the scene
since the '60s. Meth-makers and marijuana-growers have a long-history
of operating here. They found Southern Oregon receptive -- in terrain,
climate and often in the attitudes of the residents of these Western
hollers.

Sure, the war on drugs has never ended. But most of us thought some
battles had been won, some progress made. But consider what a state
Human Services Department survey found:

Illegal drug use more than tripled in Oregon from 1995 through 1999,
surpassing alcohol abuse for the first time ever. Illicit drug use
increased from 3.1 percent of the Oregon adult population in 1995 to
10.3 percent in 1999, an alarming 232 percent increase. Alcohol abuse
showed a 26 percent decrease -- from 10.5 percent of the population in
1995 to 7.8 percent in 1999. Fifteen percent of Oregonians abused
either alcohol or drugs in 1999, a 25 percent increase from 1995,
according the survey.

There will be mixed emotions about this survey because of its
unusually large increase indicated for illicit drug use. But the
survey appears to have been a good one: 12,017 people across the state
were queried. That's a lot compared to most political surveys in
Oregon. The margin of error on the drug survey was just 0.7 percent.

What should we make of this survey? It's hard to say: Even health
officials were unable to explain the apparent dramatic increase in
substance abuse.

We're not saying that there is cause for widespread alarm. We are
saying that all Oregonians should pay attention to these figures and
those in positions to do so should review and analyze the survey's
methodology and outcome.

We're betting that the figures are valid indicators of a continuing
serious substance abuse problem among Oregonians, young and old, just
as there is everywhere.

For illicit drugs, their use and abuse began in the '60s and continues
today, while alcohol abuse has been with us always. The cavalier
attitude of some people to substance abuse is one contributor to the
societal malaise that perpetuates that abuse.

Agency people already invested in anti-substance abuse programs and
lay persons who are interested should come together and begin a new
war on drugs. A consensus on how and where this war should be fought
must be reached -- both now in the short term, and far beyond the year
2000.

This survey raises questions and fears, but it also should raise our
awareness that the fight against drug abuse is far from over.