TEEN DRUG USE IS VAST, SURVEY SAYS

75 percent of high schoolers responding in Acalanes and other
districts have used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs 75
percent of responding high schoolers in Acalanes and other districts
said they have used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs

For breakout:

COMMUNITY MEETING

The Acalanes Attendance Area Drug-Alcohol Coalition will hold a public
meeting to discuss survey results and what to do at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26
in the cafeteria of Acalanes High, 1200 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette.

Alcohol and drug use has become widespread in the Acalanes Union High
School District and four feeder districts, according to a survey of
more than 1,300 students.

The survey found the percentage of students reporting alcohol and
marijuana use generally exceeded statewide levels for grades nine
through 12 and fell below levels in grades seven and eight.

It also found that a "substantial minority" of students use alcohol
and drugs frequently and in large amounts, and that many drive under
the influence or ride with a driver who is under the influence.

The survey encompasses students from five high schools -- Acalanes in
Lafayette, Campolindo in Moraga, Miramonte in Orinda and Las Lomas and
Del Oro in Walnut Creek -- plus Orinda and Walnut Creek intermediate
schools, Stanley Intermediate in Lafayette and Joaquin Moraga
Intermediate in Moraga. Detailed statistics from intermediate schools
were not available.

'A community problem'

The survey found that 75 percent of high school students responding
reported using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and/or some other drug at
some time since the start of the 1997-98 school year. Sixty percent
reported drinking beer, wine or liquor, 42 percent smoked marijuana,
16 percent used hashish and 14 percent used smokeless tobacco.

The survey "verifies that the kids in these communities are using
alcohol and drugs, and that some of them are using quite a bit," said
John Haller of the Acalanes Attendance Area Drug-Alcohol Coalition.

"I would say it's cause for the community to come together to address
the issue," said Jodi Riley, co-chairwoman of the coalition.

"It's a community problem; I think there's a lot of things the
schools can do, but they can't do it alone. So ultimately, what we
would like to see are community norms that are raised," Riley said.
The biggest step, she said, is increasing residents' awareness of the
problem.

"We can't silently accept this," Riley said. Children take silence as
acceptance, she said.

The survey's findings of a widespread problem and the statistics sound
accurate, said Moraga police Detective Mike Maes, who has handled
youth drug and alcohol cases.

Nine percent of high school respondents said they had used inhalants,
7 percent LSD, 7 percent other psychedelic drugs, 7 percent narcotics,
5 percent cocaine, 5 percent methamphetamines, 4 percent
tranquilizers, 2 percent PCP and 1 percent heroin, barbiturates,
sedatives and a "date rape" drug.

Another coalition member, Lafayette school board member Mary McCosker,
said the survey put the local schools in line with others elsewhere.
"I would like to wish that it wasn't happening, but I think it's
happening everywhere, so I think we're just a picture of what's
happening in the country."

Battling the statistics

Schools have counseling, support groups and other programs to combat
drug and alcohol use, McCosker said, but some parents "are probably
not aware of what's happening with their kids." She called for
continuing parent education on drug and alcohol use by youths and for
better communication by parents with their children.

Coalition members have called for increased efforts by schools and
others to reduce drug and alcohol use, a consistent emphasis on
standards and open, honest dialogue. Parents, school staff members,
students and others formed the coalition last year because of their
concern that student abuse of drugs and alcohol had increased in
recent years.

Students participated anonymously and voluntarily in the 68-question
survey at schools in the spring. They answered questions mostly about
themselves but also queries such as: Where do most people at their
schools who use alcohol or drugs get them?

Respondents totaled 1,332 -- about 18 percent of the nine schools'
overall student population -- including 896 from the high schools. The
survey was based on similar questions in the 1997-98 California
Student Survey of Substance Abuse and Other Behaviors "because it is a
well-tested instrument and will allow us to compare our results to
students statewide," said the coalition's report.

It cited a 3 percentage point margin of error, plus or minus, for
figures involving all respondents. Haller, a consultant to schools and
youth agencies, said the survey had a 6 percentage point margin of
error for subgroups.

Thirty-one percent of high school respondents said they had driven a
car under the influence of alcohol or another drug, or had been in a
car with a friend who was driving under the influence. Five percent
reported they had done so three to six times, and 9 percent reported
it happened more than six times.

The survey also found that nearly all tobacco smokers also use other
drugs, that youths report drug use has caused problems in many areas
of their lives, that use starts at early ages and increases steadily
with age, that drugs are easy to get and that drugs are used in places
throughout the community.

It also found that youths think parents will impose the least severe
consequences, compared with police or schools, for being caught using
drugs or alcohol.

Andy Jokelson covers Lamorinda. You can reach him at 925-943-8379 or
by e-mail at ajokelson@cctimes.com.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry