Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2000
Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press
Contact:  P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Website: http://www.newspress.com/

SOBRIETY

Prof. Berry offered another excellent piece of advice to new freshmen and 
transfer students at Monday's ceremony -- you have a lot more fun in life 
if you stay sober.

That remark coincides nicely with the most recent results from a statewide 
survey of 13,000 students in the seventh, ninth and 11th grades at 116 
schools across California, including several in Santa Barbara County. The 
survey found that drug and alcohol use declined significantly for the first 
time in more than 10 years. Use of marijuana, methamphetamines and 
inhalants by students in all three grades was lower last year than the year 
before. The overall decline in alcohol use was the first drop in 15 years.

These results represent a significant change for the better -- and for the 
future. But there are warning signs.

Heroin use was up among 11th graders, most likely because the drug is 
relatively inexpensive and it's now widely available in smokeable form. 
Drug and alcohol abuse by students already classified as heavy users 
remained steady.

The survey offers good news, but also sobering statistics that tell us 
there is still plenty of work to be done in the war against substance abuse 
by teens.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D