STUDENT DRUG HAS LOST MOMENTUM, SUGGESTS REPORT

TORONTO (CP) Drug use among Ontario students has levelled off, suggests
a study of drug use released today.

"The recent upswing in drug use that we found between 1993 and 1995 has
lost momentum," said Edward Adlaf, a scientist at the Addiction Research
Foundation and coauthor of the study.

"Only one of 20 drugs increased in use. However, although drug use is not
increasing, neither is it declining."

Hallucinogens, such as mescaline and magic mushrooms (psilocybin),
increased from six to nine per cent among females, five to 10 per cent
among ninth graders and seven to 13 per cent among 13th graders. Those
from western Ontario saw an increase from seve n to 12 per cent.

But gluesniffing declined among all students surveyed from 2.4 per cent
to 1.5 per cent.

The study monitored the use of alcohol and other drugs among 3,990 Ontario
students in Grades 7, 9, 11 and 13.

It has been conducted every two years by the Torontobased centre since
1977