MARIJUANA USE LOWER IN W.VA.

West Virginians apparently aren't as fond of marijuana and other illegal
drugs as people in other states.

The average numbers of West Virginians more than 12 years old reporting use
of the drug from 1999 to 2001 were below national averages, according to a
report released by the U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services
Administration.

On average, 3.5 percent of West Virginians surveyed in that time said they
had tried marijuana in the last month, compared to 5 percent nationally.
About 1.4 percent of state residents said they had tried the drug for the
first time in a given year, just slightly less than 1.6 percent of average
Americans.

Among West Virginia's six districts, South Central III -- Boone, Clay and
Kanawha counties -- had the highest percentage for both categories.

When it came to risk, 49 percent of state respondents said they were in
great risk of smoking marijuana once a month, including more than half of
those surveyed in the South Central I region, which includes Jackson, Wirt
and Wood counties, among others. The national average was about 43 percent.

The report includes 331 localities in all 50 states. Of the 15 districts
with the highest percentages of past month marijuana use, five were in
Massachusetts, three were in California and two were in Colorado, according
to the substance abuse administration.

"We use information from other states to compare where we rank and how we
do," said John Law, spokesman for the West Virginia Department of Health
and Human Resources, who had not looked at the report as of Friday. "If we
rank at the bottom, we wouldn't focus our efforts as much as if we were at
the top."

The largest national numbers were in the low double digits -- for example
Boston had an estimated 12 percent. West Virginia shared the lower end of
the spectrum with areas in northern Iowa and southwest Texas, where
percentages were just above 2.

Nonetheless, "any illegal drug use is perceived as a problem," Law said.

For illegal drugs other than marijuana, the state was below national
averages for those reporting use in the last month and cocaine use in the
past year. Respondents in the South Central III district again reported the
highest use of drugs in the last month with almost 6 percent. The highest
percentage of cocaine use was in South Central II, which includes Cabell,
Lincoln, Putnam and Wayne counties.

The average percentage of West Virginians who reported smoking cigarettes
in the past month during the three-year period was 30, 5 percent higher
than the national average. The 38 percent of West Virginians reporting any
tobacco use was 9 percent higher than the national average. South Central
II had the highest percentages in both categories.

West Virginians were below the national average in reporting a perceived
risk of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day.

State residents were also below national averages in having reported binge
or regular alcohol use in the month before a survey. South Central III had
the highest statewide percentages for those categories as well as in those
who felt a great risk to have five or more drinks once or twice a week,
according to the report.

Despite the report's age, Law said it is still significant: "It is still
relevant, particularly if you're using it for prevention."

On the Web: www.oas.samh sa.gov/substate2k5/toc.htm.