SUBSTANCE USE STRATEGY IN THE WORKS

Seventy-eight per cent of high school students in Revelstoke have
drunk alcohol, while 37 per cent have tried smoking.

Those are the preliminary results of a Youth Drug Survey of
Revelstoke Secondary School students conducted last month as part of
the Revelstoke Community Substance Use Strategy.

"The statistics actually show that in terms of substance misuse we're
really not any worse off than any other community," said Jill
Zacharias, the city's social development coordinator and leader of
the substance use strategy. "By doing the substance use strategy
we're not pointing any fingers. We're not saying, 'Oh my god!
Revelstoke is becoming a place of evil debauchery.' We're not saying
anything like that. We're just looking at our overall community
health and what we can do better to support people in the community
and just offer the young people options."

Preliminary results of the Youth Drug Survey that was completed by
399 of 476 RSS students and a separate stakeholder survey of 78
service providers will be unveiled at a public forum at the community
centre Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. The forum will give the community
a chance to contribute to the strategy.

"I think our problems are no different than what other small
communities are facing," said Lory Borges, a school-based prevention
worker with the Interior Health Authority. "I think our biggest
concerns are alcohol and marijuana use."

The survey found the initial age for alcohol and marijuana use was
between 13 and 14.

Forty-eight students smoke cigarettes daily, 51 use marijuana daily
or every weekend, and 150 drink regularly (defined as once or twice a
month or more).

Use of caffeinated energy drinks like Red Bull caused concern, with
125 students drinking them regularly. Forty-seven per cent said they
didn't think they caused harm.

"There are some kids that probably use it in place of caffeine and
there are some kids who are using large quantities of it to get high
so I think that's where the concern comes in," said Borges.

For other drugs surveyed, the majority of students responded that
substance use did cause physical harm, said Zacharias.

In terms of hard drug use, magic mushrooms were the most prevalent,
with almost 19 per cent having tried them at least once, followed by
ecstasy. Prescription drug misuse also rated highly, said Zacharias.

Almost 45 per cent of respondents said they had a blackout experience
after using a substance, "Which is pretty high," said Zacharias.

"The biggest thing is just that the use of substances in any way
shape or form is deeply embedded into the socialization aspect of use
culture, which reflects what goes on with adults," she said.

The survey was followed up with three focus groups at the high
school. Students were chosen randomly to take part.

For the stakeholder survey, "We asked them specifically in their
professional experience what they were coming across with their
clients and what they thought were effective strategies to move
forward," said Zacharias.

Sixty-four per cent of respondents said they felt they were not
adequately trained to deliver services effectively to clients with
substance use problems.

Alcohol was seen by stakeholders as the most significant problem,
with prescription drug misuse, tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine also
considered problems.

Almost 75 per cent felt the most significant barrier to addressing
substance use in Revelstoke was a general acceptance of drug and alcohol use.

"We have to seriously look at the fact that as adults, kids mirror
our behaviour," said Zacharias.

Focus groups have been conducted with several stakeholders. Zacharias
also plans on looking at strategies being used in other communities
as well as information from the Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.

"We'll try to put it together with the reality of the situation in
Revelstoke and try to come up with some constructive recommendations
at the end of the day."