STUDENT SURVEY OFFERS INSIGHT INTO ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE

Alberta students are less likely than their national counterparts to abuse
alcohol and drugs but that doesn't mean it's not happening, says a new
survey released by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

Last fall, AADAC conducted a survey of Grade 7-12 students in 39 school
divisions in the province - including the Grande Prairie Catholic School
District and the Peace Wapiti School Board. The provincial results, which
were presented to the Catholic school board this week, were not a surprise
to AADAC representatives who see the struggles of local kids nearly every day.

"These results are consistent with what we see locally, including who we
see and what they're coming in for," said adolescent counselor Carol Crerar.

"I don't feel surprised by this. We've been getting general information in
previous years but when we go into schools, alcohol, marijuana and tobacco
is what we talk about."

Nearly 3,400 teens participated in the survey, which measured students'
substance use and gambling activities over the previous 12 months. It also
examined key risk factors that are associated with the likelihood of
developing future problems.

"This is a good snapshot look at what teens are using and what they are
abusing," said Barb Robbins, counseling and prevention services supervisor.

"We follow most patterns in North America but our numbers are lower than
Ontario and Nova Scotia, which are the other two provinces who have
recently done studies. However, the numbers we're seeing from this are
alarming at times."

Among the students surveyed in Alberta last year, 56.3 per cent admitted to
using alcohol, 27.6 per cent used marijuana, 16.2 per cent smoked
cigarettes, 10.4 per cent used magic mushrooms and 7.8 per cent used
chewing tobacco.

Of those, 13 per cent reported harmful levels of use of alcohol, with such
symptoms as blackouts, daily use and an inability to stop. Nearly six per
cent admitted to a dependency on marijuana while 9.5 per cent reported
problem gambling.

This is the first study targeted at youth that's been done since 1989.
That's something Robbins would like to see changed as AADAC aims to help
prevent teens from continuing down the same path.

"We want to look ahead and predict patterns so we can help prevent this
behaviour. Things are showing up that we wouldn't have seen 10 years ago.
The drug culture has changed and we want to keep on top of that. Our intent
with this study is to do this every two years so we can follow trends," she
said.

AADAC and the school districts are already looking at various risk and
protective factors in order to keep students away from harmful, addictive
behaviours.

Prominent risk factors that have been identified include age, peer risk
behaviour, family history and discord and disconnection. Protective factors
include parental monitoring, social skills, pro-social activities and a
good connection to school.

New programs aimed toward kids from Grade 4-11 are already available in
schools and tie in to the existing health curriculum.

"For us, prevention programs must address the complete social setting, they
must be timely and they are vital in schools. Collaboration with the
schools is necessary."

"There are lots of materials out there," added Crerar. "We have to work
with the schools and with the parents in order to make this work."