NINTH-GRADE DRUG USE SHOWN ABOVE AVERAGE

However, Use Among High-School Juniors And Seniors
Was Below National And State Averages

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- The class of students that tested high for drug
use in fifth and seventh grades is continuing to test high as ninth-
graders.

A survey of students from fourth-through 12th-graders conducted last
spring showed students at all levels were using drugs and drinking.

About 7 percent of the 414 fourth-graders surveyed reporting using beer
within the past year. One out of every five seniors said they smoked
marijuana on a regular basis, Bob Peterson, international director of PRIDE
Youth Programs, told a workshop attended by about 20 district counselors,
educators and health officials.

While below national averages, "that's still quite shocking," he said.

While usage among high-school juniors and seniors was below national
and state averages, usage amongst Indian River County's ninth-graders
was above these averages, "It seems that's where your problem is,"
Peterson said.

The PRIDE survey is done every two years with students in elementary,
middle- and high-schools. This year's survey was conducted last spring
by the Substance Abuse Council. Surveys were distributed to 834
fourth- and fifth-grade students and 780 sixth-through 12-grade
students. Fourteen of the 19 public schools in the county were surveyed.

Peterson said county officials should be most concerned about the
ninth-graders.

Of the 145 ninth-graders surveyed, 22 percent said they regularly use
marijuana, 35 percent said they regularly drink alcohol and 24 percent
smoke.

This type of survey can be used to spot trouble areas, Peterson said.

"You can find out what's going on and start asking questions," he said.

The community needs to get involved in helping reduce drug usage
among children, he said. The survey is not supposed to point fingers
at any one group, he said.

"It's the whole community's drug problem. It isn't the school's fault," he
said.

The ninth-grade class has been monitored for some time, said Colette
Heid, executive director of the Substance Abuse Council of Indian
River County. In 1999, surveys showed a jump in usage among
fifth-grade students. The jump occurred two years later amongst the
then-seventh graders. The survey now is showing this class is
continuing the trend, she said.

The council needs to find out whether an influx of people moving into
the area has any effect on the survey results, she said. It could be
that students moving into the area have not received the same
anti-drug programs as their peers, she said.

"This is the population we need to watch and pull some strategies
together to get to them," she said.

Melinda Gielow, director of health and student services for the
district, said the survey results didn't surprise her.

She said she was glad to see a decline in use amongst the upper high-
school students, but also wanted to look more closely at the usage of
the ninth-grade students.

Drug Survey

Of the 134 sixth-graders surveyed, 17.7 percent reported using beer,
5.4 percent reported using marijuana.

Of the 126 seventh-graders, 44.7 used beer, 12.2 percent
marijuana.

Of 100 eighth-graders, 39 percent used beer, 12.1 percent
marijuana.

Of 148 ninth-graders, 56.5 percent used beer, 36.6 percent
marijuana.

Of 111 10th-graders, 56 percent used beer, 22 percent
marijuana.

Of 102 11th-graders, 47.9 percent used beer, 29.2 percent
marijuana.

Of 59 12th-graders, 55.9 percent used beer, 32.2 percent
marijuana.