Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2001
Source: Cumberland Times-News (MD)
Copyright: 2001 Cumberland Times-News
Contact:  http://www.times-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1365
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

DRUG USE

County Losing Ground In Ongoing Battle

While fewer students across Maryland are using drugs and alcohol, those in 
Allegany County are posting alarming increases in both categories. Ever 
increasing numbers of young people in the county, like their counterparts 
statewide, are also experimenting with the dangerous drug Ecstasy.

The latest Maryland Adolescent Survey found increases virtually across the 
board for high school seniors in the county. While drug and alcohol abuse 
is down among younger students, the report indicates that much work remains 
to be done in steering Allegany County's youth away from the dangerous lure 
of drug use.

According to the survey, use of the "club drug" Ecstasy has nearly doubled 
among seniors to 14 percent. A synthetic drug, Ecstacy is often used in 
dance clubs and has the characteristics of both stimulants and 
hallucinogens. Along with an initial amphetamine-like rush that boosts 
energy levels, the drug can increase heart rate and blood pressure and 
damage brain cells. Long-term use can produce mood swings and memory loss.

Seniors in the county are also increasing their use of the traditional "big 
three" of youth drugs: Alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.

Among Allegany County 12th graders, the percentage reporting that they have 
used cigarettes is a staggering 65 percent, the highest in the state. Every 
day 3,000 young people in the United States take up smoking. One third of 
them will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer, 
emphysema and heart disease.

Many young smokers are setting themselves up for a lifelong addiction. 
Nearly 90 percent of adult smokers took their first puff at or before age 18.

The results aren't much better for alcohol and marijuana, with local use 
among seniors ranking third highest for alcohol and fourth highest for 
marijuana.

Health and education officials are encouraged that the survey showed 
declining rates of drug use among younger students in the county. However, 
that silver lining should not deter the community -- parents, schools and 
health officials -- from aggressively tackling this problem, which cuts 
across all socio-economic levels.

Too often we view the war against drug as a far-off conflict waged at our 
nation's border. The latest report on adolescent drug use serves as another 
reminder that the front lines of this campaign are in our schools and homes 
and on our streets.
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