STUDENTS' SUBSTANCE USE INCREASES

By the time Washington students graduate from high school, more than
80 percent have experimented with alcohol, more than 60 percent have
smoked cigarettes and more than half have used drugs.

And the use of all three among adolescents is up from 1995, according
to the latest Washington State Survey of Adolescent Health Behavior,
which was released yesterday.

Among the more than 39 percent of sixth-graders who said they have
experimented with alcohol - up from 33 percent in 1990 - half of the
students said they got their alcohol at home and with their parents'
knowledge.

The survey assessed 14,601 sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-grade
students in 102 public schools in the state on behavioral and health
issues, including substance abuse and weapon possession. This is the
fifth time the survey has been done; it was started in 1988.

The survey was conducted by three state agencies: the Office of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Department of Social and
Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Community, Trade and
Economic Development.

Their hope is that schools and communities will use the survey,
evaluating their intervention programs to see if they meet the needs
of local adolescents and to help in developing more programs where
they're needed.

"Our belief is if you can prevent today's teens from ever getting
involved in substance abuse, the next generation will not be showing
up with fetal-alcohol syndrome, cocaine addiction, Child Protective
Services caseloads, domestic abuse. Hopefully it will help to stop the
cycle," said Kathy Spears, DSHS spokeswoman.

Part of the survey asks students what they need to stay away from the
undesirable behaviors. Spears said responses include the need to feel
committed to their community and school, to stay away from friends who
drink and to feel rewarded for positive behaviors.

Spears said the results of the survey were up and down - "Some things
got better, some got worse."

Among the results:

- -- Nine percent of sixth-graders reported carrying a weapon in the
past 30 days, down from 17 percent in 1992.

- -- Eight percent of sixth-graders, 12 percent of eighth-graders, 12
percent of 10th-graders and nine percent of 12th-grade students said
they have belonged to a gang.

- -- Nearly 14 percent of sixth-graders, 34 percent of eighth-graders
and more than 56 percent of 12th-graders said they have experimented
with illicit drugs. And one in four 10th- and 12th-grade students said
they use marijuana.

- -- Since 1990, cigarette smoking among sixth-, 10th- and 12th-graders
has steadily increased. Smoking among eighth-grade students leveled
off this year.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry