SURVEY TO HELP FIGHT YOUTH DRUG, ALCOHOL USE

Numerous studies have been compiled in recent years measuring alcohol and
drug use among youths at both the national and state levels.

The findings have been consistent -- teenagers are using, or at least
experimenting with, drugs and alcohol at alarming rates.

The trouble with such studies, however, is that they only represent a broad
overview of the problem. Understanding that a certain percentage of
teenagers across the state, or even the country, have tried alcohol or
drugs is important, but it can't be assumed that that same percentage holds
true for every area.

The most effective prevention programs are developed at the local level,
but data that is narrowly focused on local usage is too often lacking.

That's why a recently completed survey in the Daviess County, Owensboro
Catholic and Owensboro Public school districts is so important to the
community in getting its arms around this problem.

The Kentucky Incentive Project was funded by and administered at the
request of the local Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy board. It
measures a number of adolescent behaviors but primarily focuses on drug and
alcohol use.

Each of the local school districts should be commended for its
participation. On the surface it would seem an easy decision, since the
well-being of area youths should be a priority for all schools. At the same
time, schools know that in agreeing to administer the survey, they'll also
bear the brunt of criticism that comes with negative results.

It will be important for people to remember that teen drug and alcohol use
is not a school problem, but a community problem. Schools play a role in
the process, whether it be compiling data or providing educational
resources. But they aren't to blame for the problem, nor should they be
expected to be the solution. To fully address youth drug and alcohol use
will take an increased commitment from numerous segments of society.

And there are problems that must be addressed, as the KIP data reveals:

- -- 27 percent of high school seniors, and 14 percent of 10th-graders,
reported drinking alcohol 40 or more times.

- -- 17 percent of seniors, and 11 percent of 10th-graders, said they had
smoked marijuana 40 or more times.

- -- 55 percent of seniors, and 45 percent of 10th-graders, answered that
they felt it was either "not wrong at all" or only "a little bit wrong" for
a person their age to drink alcohol regularly. Those percentages were 29
percent and 25 percent respectively when the question was asked of smoking
marijuana.

Just as disturbing -- and a true sign of the work that must be done -- was
how students viewed parental acceptance of drug and alcohol use.

One in five seniors said his parents thought it wasn't wrong or only "a
little bit wrong" for him to drink alcohol, and 8 percent said their
parents would think it only slightly wrong if they smoked marijuana.

With such problems now placed in better focus, efforts to reduce teenage
alcohol and drug abuse have a far greater chance at success.