DRUGS, ALCOHOL A BAD RAP

Substance Abuse Shows Drop For South Coast Juveniles

South Coast youngsters are turning away from alcohol as well as from
narcotics and high-risk drugs, according to a report by Fighting Back, a
Santa Barbara nonprofit group.

At the same time, juvenile arrests for alcohol and drug abuse on the South
Coast jumped by 40 percent from 1997 to 1999, the report said. Arrests for
cocaine, heroin and marijuana violations all went up sharply.

Few students locally receive help with addictions, Fighting Back officials
said. In 1997, only 170 young people received county-funded counseling for
drug and alcohol abuse.

Among the key findings presented in the annual report to the county Board
of Supervisors on Tuesday:

- - The use of beer, wine and liquor among primary- and secondary-grade
students has declined 25 percent in the last four years;

- - In that time, truancy has declined 29 percent;

- - While statewide rates of drug use other than marijuana have continued to
climb among students, South Coast rates have declined;

- - Following a period of decline, arrests for "hard" drugs have taken an
upturn in the last two years;

- - School suspensions have more than quadrupled in the last four years to
2,300 last year.

The recent increase in local arrests of young alcohol and drug abusers may
be primarily because of more aggressive enforcement, the report said.
During 1998, a school resource officer was added to the police force; the
police and probation departments collaborated in conducting sweeps and home
searches; a new daytime loitering law went into effect, and the night
curfew was expanded.

In addition, the police believe that the availability of heroin in smokable
form has increased its use among juveniles, especially gang members.

Santa Barbara Fighting Back was founded in 1991. Its goal is community
mobilization, strategic planning and collaborative action to address the
full range of alcohol and other drug problems facing the South Coast.

Through support of Red Ribbon Week, Sober Graduation, drop-in centers and
other activities, the organization hopes to reduce substance abuse among
12- to 17-year-olds and increase treatment services for children, adults
and families.

Fighting Back officials say the percentage of students who reported using
alcohol is dropping and those who binge or drink at least weekly has
declined in the past two years.

At the same time, 22 percent of high school juniors report excessive
alcohol use.

After alcohol, marijuana is the most frequently used drug among South Coast
teens, according to the report. Although marijuana use reported by high
school students nationwide is down slightly, statewide use has climbed
among all grades since 1991.

Among younger students, Santa Barbara seems to be the exception to that
trend with seventh-grade marijuana use dropping from 15.9 percent in 1991
to 3 percent the last year. Usage among freshmen has dropped from 42.6
percent in 1996-97 to 23.6 percent last year.

Marijuana use among juniors shows a slightly upward trend since 1991, and
at 41 percent in 1998-99, remains high.

At the core of Fighting Back's school-based strategies are teams of Youth
Service Specialists at secondary schools. A total of 47 percent of students
receiving help from these specialists showed a 25 percent decline in
truancy, and 70 percent did not have further suspensions.

The most significant decline in truancy occurred in the last two years,
after intervention programs began, including one between the District
Attorney's Office and the schools.

Fighting Back found that about 90 percent of the student body participates
in substance abuse prevention activities and many students say that helps
them avoid alcohol and drugs.

Still, few students receive treatment for substance abuse, Fighting Back
officials said. The organization funds a program for about 50 youths at
Project Recovery on Haley Street. But as many as one in every five young
people in the greater Santa Barbara area may need help, the report said.

Fighting Back recently launched a fund-raising drive to build a $5 million
drug prevention and treatment center for adolescents in Santa Barbara. The
programs are most successful if, in addition to individual and group
counseling, they can also provide a weight room and a place to play
basketball and soccer, Nick Kelly, a Fighting Back spokesman, said.

"We cannot meet the need right now, unfortunately," he said.