STUDENTS REPORT USING MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL

Cedarburg Survey Prompts Plans For Anti-Drug Task Force

Cedarburg - Alcohol and marijuana are the drugs of choice for Cedarburg
High School students, according to results of a first-ever survey released
Tuesday.

According to information presented to the School Board during its regular
meeting, 61% of 12th-graders and 53% of 11th-graders reported drinking
alcohol at least once a month.

The findings reflect state and national trends and help explain the growing
problem of binge drinking among college students, said Jan Chapman, the
district's director of pupil services and special education. Chapman
prepared the report.

"We're kind of supporting that as we go up gradewise. There are more
drinkers than non-drinkers," Chapman said.

Marijuana use was also reported by high schoolers. According to the survey,
44% of all 12th-graders and 39% of all 11th-graders reported using
marijuana during the past year. On the average, 22% of all students
surveyed reported using marijuana.

The survey was given in the spring to all students in grades six through
12. Students were also asked whether they smoked, sniffed inhalants, or
used other drugs, including LSD, amphetamines, crack cocaine, steroids or
heroin.

According to the survey, student tobacco use is about half the state
average. By 12th grade, only 28% of students reported smoking at least once
a month.

Although usage levels were below state and national averages, the
percentage of students who reported drinking, smoking or using drugs rose
gradually through middle school, then increased sharply in high school.

"The trend is that eighth-graders tend to do a lot more experimenting
during the summer before they enter that ninth-grade year," said Chapman,
who plans to step up education and awareness efforts for eighth-grade
students and their parents as a result of the survey findings.

Chapman called the low numbers of students who reported using inhalants and
amphetamines "good news." Only 10% of 12th-graders reported using
inhalants, while 18% of 12th-graders reported using amphetamines.

However, she was concerned by reports of students using heroin, a trend
that has been observed by local law enforcement officials.

"That's becoming a real concern," Chapman said.

Students were also asked about how they obtained alcohol, tobacco and drugs
and where they used them. The overwhelming finding was that they were not
using the substances at school, which points to the need for a community
approach to solving the problem, according to Chapman.

"It's not just a school district concern, it's a community concern," she said.

The survey was intended to give district officials a preliminary indication
of the extent of student drug and alcohol use. Based on the results,
Chapman recommended further surveys, as well as development of a special
task force to work on ways of combating the problem.

Superintendent Daryl Herrick said he planned to assemble a task force
immediately. Group members would include parents, teachers and community
representatives.

School Board members seemed concerned by the findings and supported
immediate action.

"We certainly recognize that this is an issue for us and all communities.
We want to move ahead," board President Buz Reed said.