FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE

For the first time in Ontario, drug use among First Nation students
has been measured and the collected data could help drive programs to
help curb at-risk behaviour.

Tuesday November 29, 2005For the first time in Ontario, drug use among
First Nation students has been measured and the collected data could
help drive programs to help curb at-risk behaviour.

The Northwestern Health Unit in conjunction with the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health conducted the survey to help First Nation
communities get a better view of substance abuse among teens. High
schools across the province take a similar test every two years to
measure drug use and the questions asked to the First Nation
communities around Kenora-Rainy River were very similar in nature.

"Yes some (answers) surprised me, I didn't think alcohol was lower in
First Nations students compared to Northern Ontario students," said
Dr. Val Mann, epidemiologist at the health unit and lead investigator
of the survey.

The first results from this survey are compared to the results of the
2005 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey's Northern statistics.

Northern students indicated 69 per cent of them drank whereas 53 per
cent among First Nations indicated the same behaviour.

However, cannabis users among First Nations was recorded as being
significantly higher with 59 per cent indicating use, whereas Northern
youth indicated 33 per cent. Smoking among First Nation youth was also
higher -- 51 per cent, compared to 20 per cent among the North.

"When we talked to people from the communities about the results, it
didn't surprise them," said Mann.

Among users of hallucinogens, First Nation students were higher users
with 17 per cent saying they had used them compared to 8.6 per cent
among Northern youth. But other illicit drugs and glue and solvent use
were reported on the First Nations as being extremely minimal.

Mann said this included all of the students they could get who were
attending school. There are some they may have missed who were not in
school at the time who could have possible changed the outcome of the
survey.

As to how the health unit will use these answers to look beyond the
survey, is still unclear.

Chief executive officer Dr. Pete Sarsfield said because of funding
constraints and some still unsettled decisions as to who looks after
First Nation programs, they aren't sure of any specifics where this
data will be used.

"This will be an additional piece to use to talk to First Nations and
get (all levels of government) to talk about it and create some
resolution" said Sarsfield.