LOOK WHO'S TOKIN'

'Tobans Sparking Up at Increased Rates: Study

Manitobans love their pot, now more than ever. According to a newly
released Health Canada report, 13.4% of Manitobans reported sparking
up a joint in the past year, up from 7.5% in 1994.

Since 1994, the number of Canadians who report smoking marijuana has
nearly doubled, jumping to 14% from 7.4%.

Seventy per cent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 have
reported smoking pot, while 30% of teens 15 to 17 reported smoking up
in the past year.

Nearly 14,000 Canadians 15 years of age and older were interviewed in
the telephone survey.

"As a health agency, we are concerned," said John Borody, chief
executive officer of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

The survey doesn't attempt to explain the apparent increase, but
Borody suggested aging baby boomers may be to blame.

'They Look Normal'

"What we are seeing in the culture is that the baby boomers of the
'60s and '70s have now become parents, and maybe some of the youth are
looking at their parents and saying 'Well, we know a large proportion
of them are using and they look normal.'

"The bottom line is the number is up. Now we have to assess
why."

The study also tracked alcohol use among Canadians. Seventy-nine per
cent of respondents reported drinking alcohol in the past year.

Among past year drinkers, 17% are high-risk drinkers, one-third of
whom are 30 years of age or younger. Manitobans scored higher than the
national average when it comes to heavy frequent drinking and monthly
heavy drinking.

"We aren't against alcohol use," Borody said. "What we are for is more
responsible use."

Drug and alcohol prevention programs must target youth at a younger
age, Borody said.

"Right now we have been having discussions with Manitoba Education and
the school districts and we have been talking about doing this at
Grades 5 and 6," he said, adding in a previous survey, 37% of Grade 7
students have reported trying alcohol.

"Between 12 and 13 quite a large number try for first time, tobacco,
alcohol and marijuana, in that order."

The new survey findings come at a time when the Addictions Foundation
has had its provincial funding for drug and alcohol programming cut by
$600,000 a year.

"This study shows a greater need for services like ours, not a reduced
need," Borody said.

Tory health critic Myrna Driedger called the funding cut a "very
short-sighted decision that can have a profound impact on treating
addiction problems."

"When you see results like this it just reinforces that the government
made a bad decision," Driedger said."

Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald said she's concerned more teens
are experimenting with pot and alcohol. "That's something we all need
to be concerned about -- parents, teachers, coaches and the
community," she said.

Oswald said there are counselors working in 58 schools, helping teens
with drinking, drug and gambling problems.

Oswald said she would be open to providing additional funding to the
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. "I certainly wouldn't rule out an
increase in funding, but I wouldn't commit to it today either," she
said.