STATE'S DRUG USE LOWEST IN U.S.

WASHINGTON | Alabama has the lowest percentage nationwide of marijuana use
among people age 12 and over, according to a recent study released by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

At 4.4 percent, Alabama was well below the national average of 6.2 percent.
The District of Columbia had the highest rate of marijuana use at 10.8 percent.

"That seems surprising to me that Alabama would come in last," said Jeff
Baker, director of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation's substance abuse north regional clearinghouse in Anniston. "I
know that around this area, in the area that we cover, marijuana is pretty
widely abused."

The report, based on 2002 data, includes the percentage of past-month
illegal drug use, marijuana use and the use of other illegal drugs broken
down by state and age.

Illegal drugs include cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and
prescription drugs used non-medically. The report also includes percentage
of past-month alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Along with percentages of actual substance use, the report records the
percentage of those who perceive risk in using drugs. Specifically, in the
category of "Perceptions of Great Risk of Smoking Marijuana Once a Month,"
Alabama's percentage was the second highest nationwide.

Those states whose residents had the greatest perception that using
marijuana or other drugs was highly risky consistently had the lowest
percentage of drug use while the states with the highest amount of drug use
consistently had the lowest perception of risk.

"The overall perception of drug use by the population is going to have a
direct effect on its usage," Baker said.

A gaggle of 20- and 30-something graduate students in Bad Ass Coffee
Saturday night, enjoying entirely legal vices tobacco and caffeine, said
Tuscaloosa seems like most college towns when it comes to drugs, certainly
no worse than most.

Andrew Crusse moved to Tuscaloosa this summer. Compared to the last city he
lived in, Philadelphia, Tuscaloosa seems pretty small-town.

"I actually don't know anything about drugs [in Tuscaloosa]. I haven't seen
anything," he said.

"This is the third college I've attended, and in the short time I've been
here, it doesn't seem to me any different than anywhere else."

Heroin is the drug of choice in Cincinnati, hometown of Stacy Searle, where
she's seen folks with heavy drug problems.

"In comparison, it seems the drug use here is minimal," Searle said.

"I've been here a year, and I don't know anyone personally who has a
problem with drugs."

They weren't surprised that, despite being low in actual dope usage,
Alabama would be high in its perceptions of marijuana's risks.

"Well, we are in the middle of the Bible Belt," said Gaye Jeffers,
"delivering the fear factor around. That's got to have an impact."

Mike Rogers questioned the results of that poll, or any poll where people
must confess to their vices. It doesn't encourage honest reporting, he said.

"I remember taking a poll -- it was about under-aged tobacco smoking -- and
my mother had put the fear in me," Rogers said.

"I was convinced they were going to find out who I was, even though it was
only a number."

Despite being highly social animals, these grads hadn't noticed a whole lot
of clues, like walking into a room and smelling that certain sickly sweet odor.

What drug usage they have seen is mostly in pot and pills, especially uppers.

Asked if they could find dope easily enough should the occasion arise,
several laughed when one said, "In fact, there are several numbers in my
phone book ..."

As a group, the students seemed not overly concerned about the potential
damage of marijuana, viewing it as a mild depressant not unlike alcohol.

"And you can't have beer on an Atkins diet ..." said Chris Hardin, laughing.

Baker said that the Bible Belt and some Midwestern states have a negative
perception of drug use because of their more conservative values.

"That attitude would influence everyone in the society to a point," he
said. "The end result in that would be a lower-than-average rate of abuse."

This attitude toward drugs may also contribute to the amount of prevention
programs in Alabama.

Baker said there is an active prevention system in the state that receives
a great amount of support from local groups and schools because people are
so concerned about drug use.

"It all kind of works together," Baker said. "People having that attitude
would account for why prevention is given such a high priority in the state."

However, it may not be Alabama's drug prevention work that has curbed
marijuana use as much as a move by users to different types of drugs.

While Alabama ranked last in marijuana use and 47th in use of any illegal
drug, it jumped to 29th in the category of illegal drugs excluding marijuana.

"We certainly have seen a big increase in the use of methamphetamines,"
said Harold Willis, an agent in the Drug Enforcement Agency's Birmingham
branch.

Baker said that one convicted methamphetamines producer said he could
generate $10,000 a week in profit with only about $300-$500 worth of
chemicals. Additionally, meth can be produced in a few days while marijuana
takes time to grow and work to maintain.

A recent law signed by Gov. Bob Riley recognized the growth in the illegal
sale and use of prescription drugs. The law creates a statewide database
that will help law enforcement identify people receiving prescriptions like
OxyContin from several doctors at once.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Alabama ranks 11th among states
in OxyContin prescriptions per capita.

"More people are figuring out ways of getting their hands on prescription
drugs to be used illegally or sold illegally," Baker said. "There's
definitely a profit to be made in prescription drugs."

The data from previous years' substance use studies could not be compared
to the 2002 data because the methods used to retrieve the information
differed slightly. The survey was based on the responses of 68,126 people
interviewed in their homes.