DRUG USE DECLINING AMONG ADOLESCENTS, SURVEY SAYS

The results from the 2007 East Kootenay Services Adolescent Drug Use
Survey are in and the results show an encouraging trend.

When compared to the 2005 results, there has been an overall decrease
in substance use with a significant decrease being shown for alcohol,
mushrooms, LSD and amphetamines.

"I think overall we were pleased to see there was a decline on
substance abuse," said Dean Nicholson at East Kootenay Addictions Services.

"But what concerns us is that the percentage of youth who are using
marijuana are using it three days a week or more."

Regular marijuana use in the teen years can have a negative impact on
short term memory, motivation and problem solving.

This is the third region-wide drug use survey that East Kootenay
Addiction Services has conducted for all students in Grades 7-12.

The surveys are conducted every two years and this year more than
4,000 students completed the survey, which asked questions about
alcohol and drug use patterns.

Although many drug patterns are decreasing, one substance showed an
increase from 2005 - Ecstasy.

Youths numbering 6.6 percent said they have used it in their lifetime
compared to 4.7 percent in 2005. The percentage of youth who reported
drinking five or more drinks per occasion has also increased.

The survey also found that with many drugs, girls are more likely to
report having used than boys. This is particularly true for
prescription or over-the-counter medications, inhalants, cocaine,
ecstasy and amphetamines.

Boys who do use, however, tend to have used more times in their life
and tend to use more frequently than girls.

Another interesting fact turned up by the survey was that kids who are
current tobacco-smokers have a much higher drug use rate, ten times
higher to be exact, than those who do not smoke.

"We are not seeing much evidence that kids are addicted out there,"
Mr. Nicholson said.

"But there are a small percentage of youth that are engaging in some
pretty risky behavior that could get them into other trouble."

Risky behavior includes things such as over-drinking, driving after
using and using on school days.

More troublesome than that, however is the fact that the 2007 results
showed a greater percentage of youths who said they had been a
passenger in a vehicle with someone who had been using alcohol or
other drugs.

Further, among youths who report having used a variety or substances,
over 40 percent said they have driven a vehicle after drinking or
using drugs.

Mr. Nicholson said that although there are encouraging signs that
substance use is declining among East Kootenay youth, there are still
real concerns about the impact that use is having on young people.

For more information on the survey or the results, contact him at East
Kootenay Addiction Services at 489-4344 or dnicholson@cintek.com.