CORONADO SURVEY DETAILS KIDS' DRUG USE

CORONADO -- Kids in this affluent city are no different from those
elsewhere: They drink and do drugs and say they do it for fun, to
experiment and out of boredom, according to survey results released
yesterday.

The results confirmed many of the conclusions from previous, less formal
surveys that caused consternation among school and law-enforcement
officials.

According to the 1997 survey results, released at a combined meeting of the
City Council and school board, the older the age group, the higher the rate
of alcohol and drug use. The drug of choice was alcohol, followed by
marijuana.

Students said they used drugs mainly for fun or to experiment. And, they
said, youngsters obtain drugs from friends, at parties and from their
parents.

The survey, funded with Drug Asset Forfeiture money, was conducted on
seventh-, ninth-and 11th-graders. Anonymous questionnaires were given out
one day last year, and about 94 percent, or 579 students, responded.

"We figure better in many ways than students throughout the state, but the
statistics are still terribly alarming to us," Superintendent Rene Townsend
said. "We need to come up with plans, find out if there are gaps we need to
fill."

Designed by Rodney Skager, who has been conducting substance abuse surveys
for California's attorney general for 11 years, the study found that almost
one-half of the 11th-graders had used alcohol in the past 30 days. That
compares with 36.5 percent among ninth-graders and 13 percent of
seventh-graders.

Additionally, 63 percent of the 11th-graders admitted they had been drunk
at least once by the time they reached 11th grade. About 37 percent
admitted to excessive alcohol use -- drinking and getting sick at least
three times, and enjoying getting drunk. That compares with 31 percent of
11th-graders statewide, and is one of a few local statistics that exceeded
the state's average.

Thirty percent of the 11th-graders also admitted to having driven while
drunk or to riding in a car with friends who were drinking and driving.

As for illicit drugs, marijuana topped the list. About 3 percent of the
seventh-graders said they had used marijuana in the past six months, while
20 percent of the ninth-graders and 32 percent of the 11th-graders said
they had used it in the same period.

Fewer students said they used inhalants, LSD, methamphetamine and cocaine.

However, 10 percent of the ninth-graders and 21 percent of the 11th-graders
fell into the category of high-risk users because they used drugs at least
once a week. Almost one-third of the 11th-graders mixed various drugs.

"It shows that by the age of 15, 16, or 17, kids in a typical school
district have knowledge of drugs and alcohol," Skager said. "Threats or
scare tactics are not working."

Asked why they used drugs, 78.5 percent of the 11th-graders said they did
it for fun, with 66 percent citing experimentation, and 63.4 percent
blaming boredom.

The juniors also said youths obtain drugs from friends and at parties, with
9 percent saying kids get them from their parents.

Skager suggested an interactive approach to teaching youths about drugs
that allows them to share their thoughts.

He also said some studies indicate that the D.A.R.E. program and
zero-tolerance policies are not effective and that alternative approaches
should be developed.

Skager further suggested that parents supervise their children's parties to
make sure they are drug-free.

Police Chief Bob Hutton, who said he is encouraged by the lower rates of
alcohol and drug use compared with statewide statistics, added that he
believes D.A.R.E. played a positive role.

"I'd like to see it expanded to high school -- it doesn't have to be called
D.A.R.E. or delivered by the police," Hutton said. "But we need to continue
the inoculation."

Superintendent Townsend said that while D.A.R.E's effectiveness needs to be
further assessed, the district's task continues to be to help students
overcome addictions before resorting to punishment.

"We also have to help parents see the signs of addiction, help them stop
thinking, 'This can't happen to my kid,' she said.