FIGHT TEEN DRUG USE

A national survey on teen use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs offers
hope that prevention efforts are working. But there are still plenty of
reasons to worry.

The study, from the Department of Health and Human Services, indicates
declines in the use of these drugs by teen-agers. It mirrors findings
released earlier this year about Kansas City area teen-agers. In the last
three years, substance abuse has steadily dropped among young people here,
according to a March report by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Smoking rates for all teens were dramatically lower, according to the
national survey. For the first time, the use of Ecstasy, a synthetic drug
that has been popular at parties, showed a significant decline.

Particularly heartening in the national survey were findings on
eighth-graders: Smoking rates are half what they were in 1996, and
marijuana use is at its lowest since 1994.

Experts say that the longer children avoid drugs, alcohol and tobacco, the
less likely they are to experience addiction problems as adults.

Despite these positive findings, there is some disturbing news as well:
Teen use of heroin, cocaine and steroids remains fairly steady. Many high
school seniors are abusing sedatives and tranquilizers, a practice that is
more dangerous than many believe. More 10th-graders are using crack
cocaine, a very risky behavior.

So the war against teen-age drug use must continue on many fronts:
education, prevention, treatment and enforcement. While there is some good
news, it is way too early to declare the problem whipped.