MECKLENBURG REPORT

Girls' Drinking Catches Up To Boys'

High school girls are now as likely as boys to abuse alcohol, say the
authors of a new report on local substance abuse.

The finding highlights trends in a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Drug Free
Coalition report released Friday that shows an increase in high
school drinking and marijuana use among female students and
minorities in the county.

In 2000, 20 percent of high school boys and 13 percent of girls said
they had drunk alcohol without adult supervision. In 2006, 40 percent
of boys and 41 percent of girls had a drink without adult supervision.

"The gender gap is gone," said Paul Friday, a UNC Charlotte criminal
justice professor, who co-authored the report. "Girls have caught up
to the boys. Many parents say, 'I have girls. I don't have to worry
about it.' That's not true anymore."

The 2007 Substance Abuse Indicators Report, the coalition's third
since forming in 2003, was prepared by UNCC and the Chemical
Dependency Center. The data were compiled from a list of public and
private agencies, including Substance Abuse Prevention Services of
the Carolinas, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and the
Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office .

The authors say the report, which includes survey results from more
than 2,000 students ages 12-18, represents the first time they've
been able to track and compare alcohol and substance abuse trends
over an extended period.

Cindy Murphy of the Chemical Dependency Center said women make up the
fastest growing population of substance abusers in the U.S.

Drugs and alcohol take a greater toll on females, said Murphy, who
co-authored the coalition study. Substance abuse can have a greater
effect on women's hormones and can damage their reproductive system, she said.

Higher availability of drugs

The coalition study also found that 34 percent of students were
offered, sold or given an illegal drug during the past 12 months --
significantly higher than state (27 percent) and the national (25
percent) figures. Marijuana use has significantly increased for
African Americans and Hispanics. Steroid use is also up among
seventh- and eighth-graders."Kids need to realize that the decisions
they make could be a life changing event," said Michael Duni, whose
16-year-old son died of alcohol poisoning at a party in 2004. "I can
guarantee that my son didn't think I'm going to my friend's house.
And I'm going to die tonight."

Not all the coalition's findings were negative. Binge drinking is
significantly lower among 10th-through 12th-graders. There also has
been a 22 percent decrease in DWI charges and a 43 percent decrease
in driving after consuming among those under the age of 21 since 2000.

Firsthand accounts

On Friday, Ricardo Torres, a Chemical Dependency Center prevention
specialist, met with 12 students as part of the center's outreach
efforts. When Torres asked about the students' own experiences, six
acknowledged having tried alcohol. Another six said they had been
offered marijuana.

To speak with the students, the Observer agreed not to reveal their
last names or school.

Celina, 14, a seventh-grader at a Charlotte-Mecklenburg school, said
even middle school girls talk about drinking and getting drunk. She
said she's been offered a beer and that some students drink to feel
part of a group. "They want to be cool," she said.

Jonathan, 13, an eighth-grader, said he was offered marijuana that
day in computer class. He said the teacher was reviewing PowerPoint
functions when his classmate leaned over, unzipped a pencil bag and
showed him some marijuana.

"He said, 'Do you want to buy some weed?' " Jonathan said. "I said,
'No thanks.' "

Other findings

Twenty-five percent of adults in the Charlotte region say it's OK for
those under 21 to drink.

Young people can buy alcohol about 40 percent of the time without
being asked for an ID.

Methamphetamine use has more than doubled since 2003, but is still
proportionately less than marijuana and cocaine use.

Cocaine possession arrests increased 31 percent since 2003, to a rate
higher than the previous high in 1999/2000.

Xanax and Valium use significantly declined among 10th-through 12th-graders.

Full report: http://www.drugfreecharlotte.org/

Source: 2007 Substance Abuse Report