TEENS ADMIT TO BINGES

The Message Gets Through, But Then It's Often Ignored

An alarming number of Manitoba high school seniors admit to binge-boozing,
while many teens say they continue to climb into vehicles knowing the
person behind the wheel has either been drinking or smoking pot.

Nearly 55 per cent of boys and 40 per cent of girls in Grade 12 said they
consumed five or more drinks on one night of drinking at least once last
year, according to a recent survey by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

Forty per cent of the boys said they had eight or more drinks at one time,
while 20 per cent of girls admitted they did likewise.

"That's very concerning to us," said John Borody, executive director of
AFM. "Having eight drinks in one sitting is very harmful, not only in the
sense of your health, but also in the sense of all the social things that
can happen when you become that intoxicated."

The survey, entitled Alcohol and Other Drug Use by Manitoba Students and
conducted in November and December, involved 58 schools in the province and
over 6,500 students from grades 7 to 12.

The survey shows the number of teens who admit they've tried alcohol hasn't
increased in the last decade. But the amount they drink is increasing.

Yesterday, several youths outside Kelvin High School said heavy drinking is
simply a Winnipeg weekend ritual.

"You see kids with all the stress from the week -- if their parents get mad
at them or their classes get to them -- and it all comes out on the weekend
and they just binge-drink hard," said Rob Ament, 17, a Grade 12 student.

"There's parties like that every weekend."

Lori Middendorp, program supervisor for youth community-based programs at
AFM, said high school students aren't usually considered social drinkers.

"We hear from kids that say they don't typically have that glass of wine
with dinner. They drink with the intent to get drunk," she said.

"With that five-to eight- (drink) level, you're impacting your ability to
make rash decisions -- getting into a car with someone or driving yourself,
not managing your feelings and getting into a fight with someone, or not
understanding the way your girlfriend is communicating and making decisions
that are going to get you in trouble later." Just as concerning to the AFM
is the admission by high school students that they have ridden in vehicles
driven by someone who has been either drinking or smoking marijuana.

About 50 per cent of boys and about 40 per cent of girls in grades 11 and
12 say they've taken a ride knowing the driver was at least partially
impaired. And about 20 to 25 per cent of students said they had driven
within an hour of having a drink.

Borody said the results show agencies like AFM have more work to do in the
way of education and prevention.

He said past surveys only asked kids if they thought it was appropriate to
drink and drive.

"They know it's a bad thing to do. That's one thing," he said. "But when
you find out that they're actually ignoring what they think and following
the harmful behaviour, (that) is one of our concerns."

One long-time educator said the fact students admit they've travelled with
drivers who've been drinking marks a major shift in thinking.

"It wasn't so long ago there was a movement by students to have designated
drivers at all functions and activities," said Hugh Fraser, principal at
Windsor Park Collegiate and a past-president of the Canadian Association of
Principals.

"If kids are saying they are getting into cars with other kids who've been
drinking, that's a concern."

With that in mind, the AFM will continue to partner with educators and
health officials around the province to ensure education programs on
alcohol and substance abuse are part of the school curriculum, Borody said.
Messages also need to be geared to students in grades 5 and 6, he said.

Results of the survey can be found on the foundation website at www.afm.mb.ca.

SIDEBAR

Bad teen behavior, by the numbers

Some results from the Manitoba School Alcohol and Other Drug Use Survey
- -2004, by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba

* 10 per cent of Grade 7 students tried cigarette smoking

* 60 per cent of Grade 9 students consumed alcohol

* 45 per cent of Grade 12 students drank more than once a month

* 30 per cent of Grade 10 students had five or more drinks at least once

* 50 per cent of Grade 12 students smoked marijuana

* 5 per cent of Grade 10 students used cocaine

* 20 per cent of Grade 12 students drove within an hour of drinking

* 40 per cent of Grade 11 students rode in a vehicle with a driver who had
smoked cannabis