PARENTS BEWARE... MORE DRUGS, STDS AMONG PEEL'S TEENS

Peel teens are using more drugs, eating more junk food and reporting more
cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), the latest report on the
health of the region's children shows.

In the wake of such troubling trends -- and others which show smoking,
childhood obesity and teen pregnancy rates are also on the upswing -- Peel
Region officials are calling on parents to take more responsibility for the
well-being of their children.

Peel Region's Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown, who presented
the Peel Child Health Report 2002 to Council, said while the study shows
children here enjoy relatively good health by provincial and national
standards, it also reveals some unsettling trends among the under-19
population, which numbers more than a quarter million.

McKeown pointed to an increase in marijuana use, the most common drug used
by teens, as a particularly disturbing development. He said the drug's use
by youngsters more than doubled between 1993 and 2001.

Dangerous designer drugs such as ecstasy are also showing up in greater
numbers, McKeown added.

Peel councillors agreed that if solutions are to be found, the effort must
start at home.

"There is a time when more responsibility has to go back to parents," said
Mississauga Ward 2 Councillor Pat Mullin.

"A lot of this starts at home ... nutritional habits and so forth. There is
a mindset; you can see it in the stores where kids are clamouring for sweets.

"The challenge, in my view, is how you educate the parents," Mullin added.

Mayor Hazel McCallion said if parents become more knowledgeable on issues
related to children's health, concerns can then be addressed at home as
well as regionally.

Region Chair Emil Kolb said a shortage of money with which to support all
the community agencies who deal with children's health demands strong
responses from parents, teachers, politicians and other stakeholders.

"It has to start at home and I think we're a little shy about that," said
Kolb. "We have to come out much stronger in educating the parents. Parents
have to take more responsibility."

McKeown acknowledged the importance of including parents in the process and
said copies of the health report will be delivered to parents' groups at
schools throughout Peel.

"No doubt, parents are key," said McKeown. "Most of our programs are
targeted at educating them."

McKeown said because major adult health problems have their roots in
childhood behaviour patterns, it's critical that parents take action now.

"Children and youth are eating fewer fruits and vegetables and exercising
less," said McKeown, adding a lack of physical activity and poor nutrition
are significant risk factors for obesity.

Mississauga Ward 8 Councillor Katie Mahoney described the report as
"shocking", saying it's contents cannot be ignored.

"The report will point us in the right direction to remedy the situation,"
said Mahoney, noting parents in all communities must play a role in finding
solutions.

"Parenting is tough ... this isn't just children from disadvantaged
families; these are children from across the spectrum."

Caledon Mayor Carol Seglins suggested the challenge facing politicians and
health officials extends beyond that of getting parents on board.

She said teens simply don't have enough access to health education at school.

McKeown agreed schools are a critical part of the health picture and said
officials continue to make inroads on that front.

Examining the issue from a wider angle, McCallion said, a more coordinated
approach to health issues among the various agencies across the region and
GTA is necessary as well.

She said too much duplication of programs and services currently exists.

"The time has come ... to look at who's doing what and who can do it
better," said McCallion.

Among findings contained in the children's health report:

* in Peel, rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia, two of the most common STDs,
increased between 1997 and 2000;

* only two of every three sexually active teens always use a condom;

* numbers from 1996 show 35 per cent of Canadian boys and 29 per cent of
girls aged 7 to 13 were overweight; and

* according to local statistics, 32 per cent of Peel children aged 12 to 19
are physically inactive.