FIGHTING FAT, FIGHTING DRUGS

Connecticut declared war on childhood obesity this year when it
became the first state to ban sugary soft drinks from public schools.
It has reinforced that strategy by promising more state money to
schools that agree not to sell high-fat snacks and other goodies.

Now it is time for Hartford to turn its attention to a far greater
problem: drug use among school-age children.

The state's focus on obesity could do some good. A survey by the
Public Health and Education Departments showed that about 11 percent
of the state's children are overweight. The survey of high school and
middle school students also showed that parents matter -- students
whose parents know their whereabouts are 30 percent more likely to
avoid premarital sex, and 50 percent more likely to avoid drinking
alcohol or smoking cigarettes.

Over all, the state concluded reassuringly, Connecticut students'
health habits were not much different from those of students nationwide.

But there is one area in which Connecticut children are doing
measurably worse than the national average. And that is drug use.

More high school students in Connecticut reported having smoked
marijuana in the previous 30 days than had smoked tobacco: a little
more than 23 percent for marijuana, 18 percent for tobacco.

Nearly 7 percent of Connecticut 12th graders said they had used
heroin. That is more than four times the national average of 1.5
percent, as measured in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The percentage of Connecticut 12th graders who said they had used
methamphetamines, a little more than 7 percent, is especially
frightening given the addictive nature of the drug.

These statistics are scary, but the reality is probably worse because
the researchers did not talk to school dropouts, who are more likely
to use drugs than those still in school.

Connecticut's drug prevention programs are scattered throughout
various departments, with little or no coordination. The Department
of Education divides $2 million in federal drug prevention money
among thousands of schools in about 180 school districts. Its impact
is further diluted since schools are allowed to use 40 percent of the
money for violence prevention, security or metal detectors. The State
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services spends about $9
million for prevention efforts; $8 million of this is federal money,
much of it grants earmarked for specific purposes.

State lawmakers are more enamored of fighting obesity -- the cause of
the moment -- than fighting drug use. The overwhelming majority of
money spent on drug prevention comes from the federal government, and
when that is cut, the state, in the past, has not replaced it.

If Connecticut is sincere in its desire to promote the health of the
young, it will take off the blinders with regard to drug use. Drugs
threaten our young people, in school and out, a lot more than do
cookies and Gatorade. Banning brownies is easy. Helping the young
avoid drugs requires attention, not to mention money, patience and a
commitment to initiatives that are proven to work.