TEEN DRUG USE UP IN N.S.

Numbers have doubled in some cases, report says

More Nova Scotia teenagers are saying yes to drugs and alcohol.

A Health Department report says the number of students who use cannabis,
stimulants, magic mushrooms, tranquillizers, cocaine, crack, PCP and heroin
has increased dramatically over the past seven years.

In some cases, the numbers have doubled, says the report, based on a survey
of 3,755 students in grades 7, 9, 10 and 12.

"I think this is a huge concern," said Dr. Christiane Poulin, the Dalhousie
University professor who helped conduct the study.

The Health Department compiled its first survey of student drug use in 1991.

Since then, 12 per cent more teens consume alcohol.

The percentage of students who smoke cigarettes increased by almost 40 per
cent, and the proportion of those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day
went from 4.8 per cent to 13.5 per cent.

"That's clearly a path to addiction," said Jim Baker, the community
education co-ordinator for drug dependency services with the Health
Department. "That's not just trying it any more."

The proportion of students who use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis doubled
from 12.4 per cent to 24.9 per cent. About 13 per cent used cannabis more
than once a month - up from 4.4 per cent in 1991.

About 57 per cent drank alcohol at least once in the past year, 36 per cent
smoked cigarettes and 10 per cent took LSD.

Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit substance among Nova Scotia
students. The report said about 38 per cent of students had used the drug
at least once in the past year.

Mr. Baker said cannabis is easy to obtain in Nova Scotia. And he's
concerned the ongoing debate over legalizing the drug is giving youngsters
the wrong message.

"If we talk about it enough, we make it normal. And if it's normal, hey,
why shouldn't I use it?"

Young people who smoke marijuana are less motivated and lose their ability
to concentrate in school, he said.

And they're more likely to use other harmful substances, such as alcohol
and cigarettes. That leads to drinking and driving, and unprotected sex.

"Cannabis is not a benign drug, particularly with kids. You're ingesting
all these substances into your lungs, and God knows what all of those are,"
Mr. Baker said.

There was some good news in the report. The percentage of students who
sniff inhalants such as glue and solvents decreased by 27 per cent from 1991.

About 35 per cent of students said they don't do drugs at all. That's the
same proportion as recorded in a previous study, in 1996.

The province spends $14 million per year on drug-dependency programs around
Nova Scotia. Those programs are working, but more needs to be done, Mr.
Baker said.

"For all we know, if we didn't have what we've been doing, it could have
been a much sharper upward slope than what we're seeing now," he said.

"It means that we need to redouble our efforts. ... We need to improve our
reach to those kids who are making unhealthy decisions."

Dr. Poulin said the Nova Scotia numbers reflect similar trends across the
United States and in Ontario. She was also reluctant to say current
government programs aren't working.

"There is no blame assigned here. It is darned tough," she said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski