DRUG USE AMONG TEENS ROSE IN '97, STUDY SAYS

WASHINGTON - Drug use by young people increased last year, led by rising
marijuana smoking among teenagers who view it as a low-risk "soft drug,"
according to a government survey released yesterday.

Among those ages 12 to 17, 11.4 percent reported using some illicit drug
within the past month when they were surveyed last year, compared with 9
percent in 1996. The drug of choice among the group was marijuana, with 9.4
percent using it, compared to 7.1 percent the year before.

The annual National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that the number
of teens using heroin held steady last year. Among 12- to 17-year-olds,
only 0.2 percent said they had used heroin within the past month of being
surveyed, the same number as in 1996.

Marijuana is popular because many teens don't see it as dangerous, said
Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.

Shalala traced the relaxed attitude to parents.

"How many have known parents who actually are relieved when they find out
that their children are using marijuana as opposed to heroin or cocaine?"
Shalala said. "The perception of this country is that marijuana is safe."

Parents need to inform their children that marijuana is dangerous - that it
can impair learning and memory, she said. They must also be more aware of
the attitude they send to their kids about drugs.

The survey, an annual snapshot of illegal drug use in the nation, was
conducted throughout last year by interviews with 24,500 people in their
homes.

Despite the increase in teen drug use, the overall use of illegal drugs in
the country remained steady last year. About 6.4 percent of the population
said they used drugs last year. The overall drug use rate in 1996 was 6.1
percent.

Other findings from the survey:

- -- Teens are more likely to use illegal drugs if they already use
cigarettes and alcohol.

- -- About 4.5 million young people ages 12 to 17 had used cigarettes within
the past month. There was a significant increase among 12- to 13-year-olds,
growing from 7.3 percent in 1996 to 9.7 percent last year.

- -- The number of teens who currently consume alcohol has remained stable
since the 21 percent reported in 1992. In 1979, the rate was 50 percent.

- -- Marijuana continues to be the most frequently used illegal drug in the
country, with about 11.1 million people, or 5.1 percent of the population,
saying they had used it in the past month.

- -- Overall heroin use continues to increase. In 1997, there were 325,000
people who used it in the past month, or 0.2 percent of the population.