DRUG TRENDS AFFECT YOUTH IN PRICE COUNTY

Trends Include Marijuana And Pharmaceutical Drug-Use

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug used by Wisconsin's youth, and it
is also an issue for children in Price County. Other trends have been
popping up in the area in unconventional forms. Pharmaceutical and
veterinary drugs are being abused as well as household items such as
aerosol cans.

For the month of January, Wisconsin youths between the ages of 12 and 17
have an illicit drug use rate which is 6 percent higher than the national
average. Young adults ages 18 to 25 had a usage rate 14 percent higher than
the national average.

Price County Drug Investigator Chris Jarosinski says, "In rural areas we
have the same problems that are found in urban areas, only our problems are
on a smaller scale with a population of 16,000 in Price County."

He has observed that children in the county may go to urban areas with
greater access to drugs, and bring them home. "People make contacts and
drugs start flowing," he stated.

According to Jarosinski, the most common illegal drug in Price County is
marijuana. According to the federal National Household Survey on Drug
Abuse, "The 'marijuana dependence' score among Wisconsin children was 20
percent higher than the national average in January." This is due to the
attitude of Wisconsin citizens showing that they are said to believe that
there is a dramatically low risk in smoking marijuana. The average age at
which a Wisconsin youth smokes marijuana for the first time is at 16.6 years.

Marijuana cases have been prevalent in Price County. Phillips Police Chief
Moore reports a recent case in which he dealt with a case of 11marijuana
users who were middle school age.

When questioned by Moore about their reasons for doing "pot," the children
identified peer pressure as their number one reason. One of the children
had friends with older friends. The child told Moore that the older friends
influenced the middle school aged children to smoke marijuana for the first
time. In order to be accepted into the group, children emulated the older
children's drug habits.

Five percent of the middle school population was caught doing drugs that
day, a statistic too high for Moore to accept. He said that the police
department will work harder to help the community battle the drug issues at
hand. He identified the policeman's duties to protect and serve the people,
but he wants the community to get involved in drug prevention. Not only is
this a police problem, he explained, but a community problem. He thinks
that the whole community needs to take a stand against drugs.

Kathy Feuerer, social worker and expert on the study of drug-use in
Phillips High School, identified some of the most commonly used drugs by
students. "Pot has become more acceptible, but not many hard drugs like
coke and heroin are used." Marijuana is not the only popular drug according
to Feuerer. She claims that the drugs most largely used are inhalants,
including paint and spray paint sniffing, and Nitrous Oxide (also known as
Whippits).

Illegal use of pharmaceutical drugs is a new trend that has been going
around in drug circles. Pain killers are alternatives to heroin-use.
Oxycontin is one of these pain killers, and its prescriptions can be sold
for big bucks.

Ritalin, a drug used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD), is also a
commonly abused pharmaceutical drug. People use it to get high since it has
the opposite effect on people without the disorder. They commonly feel a
rush of high energy when using this drug, instead of being calmed and
focused as it would affect a person with ADD.

According to Jarosinski, the drug Ketamine has become trendy in the past
few years. Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic, a type of drug that
separates perception from sensation. Other drugs belonging to this class
include PCP and DXM, nitrous oxide.

According to the Dance Safe organization found on the Internet which
promotes health and safety within the rave and nightclub community,
Ketamine was originally designed for human use. Currently, it is used as an
anaesthetic for children and people in poor health. It is also used by
veterinarians to dull the reflexes of animals during surgery or when
administering shots.

Ketamine is a needle-injected drug, but people take it in powder form and
snort it. Dance Safe reports that low doses of Ketamine produce a "mild,
dreamy feeling."

The Dance Safe Internet web-site warns users of harm done by excessive use
of Ketamine. "Frequent use can cause disruptions in consciousness and lead
to neuroses or other mental disorders." It is dangerous and can become
psychologically addicting.

Jarosinski identifies the use of this drug as an ongoing problem.. Lately,
there has been an increase in burglary of Ketamine and veterinary types of
drugs. This new phenomenon is happening in many areas and it is most
popular among young people.

Jarosinski reports that last year there was an extensive investigation
involving Ketamine burglaries in Price County. So far, there has been one
young adult convicted of his involvement in the burglaries. The
investigation is ongoing and law enforcement officers suspect numerous
youth to be involved.

In February and April of 2002, animal euthanasia and various veterinary
drugs were stolen from the Phillips Veterinary Service. Jarosinski said
that some of these drugs have fatal consequences in animals as well as
humans. Some of these drugs were used specifically to euthanize animals.

These drugs can have fatal consequences in humans as well as animals.
Investigation and law enforcement officers agreed that this shows the
desperate measures of drug users risking their lives to get high.

Many users obtain information about pharmaceutical drugs over the Internet
or out of the Physician's Desk Reference book.

Police and investigators claim that the use of illegal drugs and drug use
can have a direct effect on the commission of other crimes. They encourage
parents and teens to be aware of the recent trends so that they may
identify drug use and users.

There is a confidential tip-line that Price County residents can call to
reach police or drug investigators if they have drug tips or information.
The number is 1-888-494-8095 and an answering machine will record your call.