Pubdate: Wed, 24 May 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/
Author: News-Press Staff Report

DRUGS, ALCOHOL A BAD RAP

Substance Abuse Shows Drop For South Coast Juveniles

South Coast youngsters are turning away from alcohol as well as from 
narcotics and high-risk drugs, according to a report by Fighting Back, a 
Santa Barbara nonprofit group.

At the same time, juvenile arrests for alcohol and drug abuse on the South 
Coast jumped by 40 percent from 1997 to 1999, the report said. Arrests for 
cocaine, heroin and marijuana violations all went up sharply.

Few students locally receive help with addictions, Fighting Back officials 
said. In 1997, only 170 young people received county-funded counseling for 
drug and alcohol abuse.

Among the key findings presented in the annual report to the county Board 
of Supervisors on Tuesday:

- - The use of beer, wine and liquor among primary- and secondary-grade 
students has declined 25 percent in the last four years;

- - In that time, truancy has declined 29 percent;

- - While statewide rates of drug use other than marijuana have continued to 
climb among students, South Coast rates have declined;

- - Following a period of decline, arrests for "hard" drugs have taken an 
upturn in the last two years;

- - School suspensions have more than quadrupled in the last four years to 
2,300 last year.

The recent increase in local arrests of young alcohol and drug abusers may 
be primarily because of more aggressive enforcement, the report said. 
During 1998, a school resource officer was added to the police force; the 
police and probation departments collaborated in conducting sweeps and home 
searches; a new daytime loitering law went into effect, and the night 
curfew was expanded.

In addition, the police believe that the availability of heroin in smokable 
form has increased its use among juveniles, especially gang members.

Santa Barbara Fighting Back was founded in 1991. Its goal is community 
mobilization, strategic planning and collaborative action to address the 
full range of alcohol and other drug problems facing the South Coast.

Through support of Red Ribbon Week, Sober Graduation, drop-in centers and 
other activities, the organization hopes to reduce substance abuse among 
12- to 17-year-olds and increase treatment services for children, adults 
and families.

Fighting Back officials say the percentage of students who reported using 
alcohol is dropping and those who binge or drink at least weekly has 
declined in the past two years.

At the same time, 22 percent of high school juniors report excessive 
alcohol use.

After alcohol, marijuana is the most frequently used drug among South Coast 
teens, according to the report. Although marijuana use reported by high 
school students nationwide is down slightly, statewide use has climbed 
among all grades since 1991.

Among younger students, Santa Barbara seems to be the exception to that 
trend with seventh-grade marijuana use dropping from 15.9 percent in 1991 
to 3 percent the last year. Usage among freshmen has dropped from 42.6 
percent in 1996-97 to 23.6 percent last year.

Marijuana use among juniors shows a slightly upward trend since 1991, and 
at 41 percent in 1998-99, remains high.

At the core of Fighting Back's school-based strategies are teams of Youth 
Service Specialists at secondary schools. A total of 47 percent of students 
receiving help from these specialists showed a 25 percent decline in 
truancy, and 70 percent did not have further suspensions.

The most significant decline in truancy occurred in the last two years, 
after intervention programs began, including one between the District 
Attorney's Office and the schools.

Fighting Back found that about 90 percent of the student body participates 
in substance abuse prevention activities and many students say that helps 
them avoid alcohol and drugs.

Still, few students receive treatment for substance abuse, Fighting Back 
officials said. The organization funds a program for about 50 youths at 
Project Recovery on Haley Street. But as many as one in every five young 
people in the greater Santa Barbara area may need help, the report said.

Fighting Back recently launched a fund-raising drive to build a $5 million 
drug prevention and treatment center for adolescents in Santa Barbara. The 
programs are most successful if, in addition to individual and group 
counseling, they can also provide a weight room and a place to play 
basketball and soccer, Nick Kelly, a Fighting Back spokesman, said.

"We cannot meet the need right now, unfortunately," he said.
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