KIDS ARE CRACKING UP

Trading E, LSD for crack, coke: Report

Ecstasy and LSD are losing their buzz with Ontario students but crack and
cocaine use is getting higher, a new report by the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health shows. Results of the 2003 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey,
the longest ongoing study of adolescent drug use in Canada, were released
yesterday to coincide with Drug Awareness Week. The survey is done every two
years.

The percentage of students using Ecstasy is down to 4.1% from 6% in 2001
while LSD use dropped from 4.8% in 2001 to 2.9% this year.

Dr. Edward Adlaf, lead researcher, said the decrease in use of Ecstasy and
LSD is likely due to negative media attention the drugs have received in
recent years.

Student use of cocaine increased to 4.8% from 4.3% in 2001. Crack use is now
at 2.7% compared to 2.1% in 2001.

Alcohol remains a major problem with 66.2% of students from Grades 7 to 12
admitting to drinking; 26.5% report binge drinking (five or more drinks on
one occasion).

"Alcohol remains the most widely used drug across all grades," Adlaf said.
"Binge drinking still remains at an elevated high."

Marijuana continues to cloud the air with 30% of students reporting they
have used pot in the past year.

Dr. Bruce Ballon with CAMH said many students become reliant on marijuana to
help them fall asleep or relax.

"Eventually, it becomes their best friend," Ballon said. "Cannabis has been
fairly stable because there hasn't been much of a change in the perceived
risk."

One in 10 students have used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and at least one
illicit drug and 28% of students believe drug use is a big problem in
schools. Only 1.4% of students surveyed reported they had received treatment
for an alcohol or drug problem in the past year.

Girls are more likely to light up than boys, but the number of students
craving a cigarette is down to 14% from 22% in 2001.

About one-third of students are clean and do not use any substances,
including alcohol or tobacco, the survey found.

Dr. David Wolfe, a psychiatrist with CAMH, said it is important for parents
to be a resource for their children.

"Parents need to be informed and they will see drug use is not as extreme as
they thought," Wolfe said. "Parents have to get away from the idea of being
cops and instead, be a source of information for their children."