Pubdate: Fri, 24 Oct 2003
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Herald-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804
Author: Debi Ruhl

STUDENT SURVEY OFFERS INSIGHT INTO ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE

Alberta students are less likely than their national counterparts to abuse 
alcohol and drugs but that doesn't mean it's not happening, says a new 
survey released by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

Last fall, AADAC conducted a survey of Grade 7-12 students in 39 school 
divisions in the province - including the Grande Prairie Catholic School 
District and the Peace Wapiti School Board. The provincial results, which 
were presented to the Catholic school board this week, were not a surprise 
to AADAC representatives who see the struggles of local kids nearly every day.

"These results are consistent with what we see locally, including who we 
see and what they're coming in for," said adolescent counselor Carol Crerar.

"I don't feel surprised by this. We've been getting general information in 
previous years but when we go into schools, alcohol, marijuana and tobacco 
is what we talk about."

Nearly 3,400 teens participated in the survey, which measured students' 
substance use and gambling activities over the previous 12 months. It also 
examined key risk factors that are associated with the likelihood of 
developing future problems.

"This is a good snapshot look at what teens are using and what they are 
abusing," said Barb Robbins, counseling and prevention services supervisor.

"We follow most patterns in North America but our numbers are lower than 
Ontario and Nova Scotia, which are the other two provinces who have 
recently done studies. However, the numbers we're seeing from this are 
alarming at times."

Among the students surveyed in Alberta last year, 56.3 per cent admitted to 
using alcohol, 27.6 per cent used marijuana, 16.2 per cent smoked 
cigarettes, 10.4 per cent used magic mushrooms and 7.8 per cent used 
chewing tobacco.

Of those, 13 per cent reported harmful levels of use of alcohol, with such 
symptoms as blackouts, daily use and an inability to stop. Nearly six per 
cent admitted to a dependency on marijuana while 9.5 per cent reported 
problem gambling.

This is the first study targeted at youth that's been done since 1989. 
That's something Robbins would like to see changed as AADAC aims to help 
prevent teens from continuing down the same path.

"We want to look ahead and predict patterns so we can help prevent this 
behaviour. Things are showing up that we wouldn't have seen 10 years ago. 
The drug culture has changed and we want to keep on top of that. Our intent 
with this study is to do this every two years so we can follow trends," she 
said.

AADAC and the school districts are already looking at various risk and 
protective factors in order to keep students away from harmful, addictive 
behaviours.

Prominent risk factors that have been identified include age, peer risk 
behaviour, family history and discord and disconnection. Protective factors 
include parental monitoring, social skills, pro-social activities and a 
good connection to school.

New programs aimed toward kids from Grade 4-11 are already available in 
schools and tie in to the existing health curriculum.

"For us, prevention programs must address the complete social setting, they 
must be timely and they are vital in schools. Collaboration with the 
schools is necessary."

"There are lots of materials out there," added Crerar. "We have to work 
with the schools and with the parents in order to make this work."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman