MAJORITY OF TEENS HAVE TRIED DRUGS -- REPORT

By the time a student in Strathcona County graduates this year, the chances
are exceptionally good that they will have experimented with drugs already.

According to the Strathcona County Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy,
released last week, anywhere between 70 per cent and 90 per cent (depending
on who you ask) of senior high students have tried drugs.

The Youth Justice Committee notes that of 251 interviews over two years, 70
per cent of youths admitted to substance abuse.

The Youth Council, through their own observations of their peers, estimate
that 75 to 90 per cent of all senior high students have tried marijuana,
with 10 to 30 per cent being habitual users.

AADAC Youth Services say half of youths seeking treatment were looking for
help with marijuana, 25 per cent for crystal meth and/or other hard drugs,
and another 25 per cent for alcohol.

None of the estimates are statistically reliable, but no one should be
surprised that the numbers were so high for Sherwood Park.

"We're not really any different than any other community, we're certainly
not immune to it. And if the kids are telling us that they're using it,
we'd better start believing them," said Cpl. Laura Knox of RCMP Community
Policing Services.

Strathcona County was one of nine Canadian communities selected to pilot a
six month project to develop municipal drug strategies.

Its goal was to identify issues related to illicit drug use, as well as the
misuse of alcohol and prescription medications.

After pinpointing the issues, the project focused on developing action plan
strategies to reduce drug use.

In Strathcona, that will largely mean getting the public more informed of
the services the county already offers.

"There are a lot of services out there, from prevention, education, early
intervention, and treatment, but the people don't know about them," said
Catriona Gunn-Graham of Strathcona County Family and Community Services.
"Actually getting information out to the community is a really key piece of
this."

When people abuse drugs, says Gunn-Graham, the people they turn to for help
first are the people they know -- their families or school counsellors.

Knowing who people are turning, to ensure that those people being sought
after for help have the right information will get more substance abusers
into the right program.

A mini-directory of services is being prepared for agencies and families,
as well as a handy card containing contact numbers for teens. Education is
key, says Knox.

The RCMP are trying to raise $60,000 from the county and community
partnerships to hire a full-time DARE instructor.

That person would teach the program to elementary, junior high, and senior
high students.

"It takes a long time to change a pattern, so if you keep going back to the
same sources with the same message eventually over time the message will
stick and be retained," she said.

The Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy is just the first step to reducing
drug use in Strathcona, says Gunn-Graham.

"This is an evolving document. As needs are met and new issues emerge, it
will change. This isn't a static document; this isn't here are the issues,
put them on the shelf, and that's it."