TEENAGERS CHOOSING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES

Alberta Youth Are Less Apt To Fall Victim To Drugs And Gambling, Leading
Healthier Lifestyles Than Teens In Other Provinces.

A new survey by the Alberta Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission (AADAC) says
positive relationships and close family ties are key factors in protecting
Alberta youth from harmful addictions.

"We see rates that are consistent with other provinces concerning
involvement with alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling," said AADAC
research manager Art Dyer.

"We also see patterns that illustrate environments such as the home and
community play a significant protective role in a child's life."

The poll, titled The Alberta Youth Experience Survey 2002, measured
substance use and gambling activity among teens in Grades 7 to 12 and shows
Alberta kids are better off than their peers in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

While more than half of the respondents admitted drinking alcohol at least
once in the past year, most didn't smoke, use drugs or gamble in the year
leading up to the survey.

But, 8% of youth in Grades 7 to 9 reported using inhalants -- that's twice
as much as their Grades 10-12 counterparts who, at 75%, were more than
twice as likely to drink alcohol, three times more apt to smoke cigarettes
at 25% and about four times more prone to smoke pot at 42%.