TEEN SMOKING ON DECLINE, SURVEY SAYS

Alcohol Drug Of Choice Among Students, Though Pot Still Popular

Teen smoking is down 13 percentage points in Nova Scotia, a survey result
that health officials hailed Tuesday as the reversal of a dangerous upward
spiral.

"We now have a new trend in this province," Nancy Hoddinott, co-ordinator
of the Health Department's tobacco strategy, said at a Halifax news conference.

"Youth smoking is on the decline, and the decline is significant."

Of 4,247 teenagers questioned across the province in the Nova Scotia
Student Drug Use 2002 survey, 23 per cent said they had smoked cigarettes
this year. That was down from 36 per cent in 1998.

The proportion of regular teen smokers - those who light more than 10
cigarettes a day - dipped to four per cent from seven per cent.

The survey also found alcohol use dropped five per cent among the students,
in grades 7, 9, 10 and 12, who filled out confidential questionnaires.

That meant just over half, or 52 per cent, of students had used alcohol in
the past year, making it the substance of choice.

Overall, 40 per cent of Nova Scotia students use no drugs of any kind, said
the survey, done for the province in collaboration with Dalhousie University.

"I think there is a misconception that all students experiment with drugs,
that all kids drink, that cigarette smoking and cannabis use are on the
rise among young people," Health Minister Jamie Muir said.

Ms. Hoddinott attributed the smoking decline to several factors, including
three tobacco tax increases since 2001, upcoming legislation on smoke-free
places and new school policies.

But the survey wasn't all good news.

It showed Nova Scotia has the highest Maritime rate of teens smoking
tobacco and marijuana.

The same rate of teens, 37 per cent, used marijuana this year as in 1998.
It is now the second-most popular substance, given tobacco's fall.

And marijuana use among young people has grown in Canada, the United
States, Australia and other western countries for the past decade, said
Christiane Poulin, associate professor of community health and epidemiology
at Dalhousie.

She theorized that may be because, at least in Canada, society gives mixed
messages about marijuana's acceptability.

As well, people who grew up "during a time of a lot of liberation" are now
parents.

"So they might not be as likely to expect no substance use from their
teenagers," said Ms. Poulin.

She said survey results are "valid and reliable" because of the careful
methods used. University students distributed the confidential written
surveys, which teens filled out and returned in unmarked brown envelopes.

And the inclusion of a "fake drug question" each year exposes the small
number of teens who exaggerate their activities, she said.

About 40 students, or less than one per cent, answered that they'd used the
fake drug - enabling researchers to pick out the fibbers, Ms. Poulin said.

Jeanette Tobin, a program administration officer for addiction services,
said the smoking decline may be a harbinger of further drops in substance use.

Smoking is "a gateway activity."

"Kids who smoke are more likely to use other drugs," she said.

SIDEBAR

DRUG STATS

- - 23 per cent of teens smoked at least once, down from 36 per cent in 1998;
- - 52 per cent of teens drank alcohol, down five per cent;

- - cannabis use stayed steady at 37 per cent;

- - over half of Grade 12 students smoked marijuana;

- - 30 per cent drank alcohol once a month or more, while 14 per cent drank
at least once a week;

- - 26 per cent had never used alcohol;

- - about 29 per cent had sexual intercourse - one-third of them had it
unplanned while under the influence of a substance;

- - use of non-prescription Ritalin and amphetamines rose to eight per cent
and nine per cent, respectively; and

- - six per cent used LSD.