Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2003
Source: Bee, The (WI)
Copyright: 2003, Murphy McGinnis Interactive
Contact:  http://www.phillipswi.com/placed/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2131
Author: Meredith Hueckman

DRUG TRENDS AFFECT YOUTH IN PRICE COUNTY

Trends Include Marijuana And Pharmaceutical Drug-Use

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug used by Wisconsin's youth, and it 
is also an issue for children in Price County. Other trends have been 
popping up in the area in unconventional forms. Pharmaceutical and 
veterinary drugs are being abused as well as household items such as 
aerosol cans.

For the month of January, Wisconsin youths between the ages of 12 and 17 
have an illicit drug use rate which is 6 percent higher than the national 
average. Young adults ages 18 to 25 had a usage rate 14 percent higher than 
the national average.

Price County Drug Investigator Chris Jarosinski says, "In rural areas we 
have the same problems that are found in urban areas, only our problems are 
on a smaller scale with a population of 16,000 in Price County."

He has observed that children in the county may go to urban areas with 
greater access to drugs, and bring them home. "People make contacts and 
drugs start flowing," he stated.

According to Jarosinski, the most common illegal drug in Price County is 
marijuana. According to the federal National Household Survey on Drug 
Abuse, "The 'marijuana dependence' score among Wisconsin children was 20 
percent higher than the national average in January." This is due to the 
attitude of Wisconsin citizens showing that they are said to believe that 
there is a dramatically low risk in smoking marijuana. The average age at 
which a Wisconsin youth smokes marijuana for the first time is at 16.6 years.

Marijuana cases have been prevalent in Price County. Phillips Police Chief 
Moore reports a recent case in which he dealt with a case of 11marijuana 
users who were middle school age.

When questioned by Moore about their reasons for doing "pot," the children 
identified peer pressure as their number one reason. One of the children 
had friends with older friends. The child told Moore that the older friends 
influenced the middle school aged children to smoke marijuana for the first 
time. In order to be accepted into the group, children emulated the older 
children's drug habits.

Five percent of the middle school population was caught doing drugs that 
day, a statistic too high for Moore to accept. He said that the police 
department will work harder to help the community battle the drug issues at 
hand. He identified the policeman's duties to protect and serve the people, 
but he wants the community to get involved in drug prevention. Not only is 
this a police problem, he explained, but a community problem. He thinks 
that the whole community needs to take a stand against drugs.

Kathy Feuerer, social worker and expert on the study of drug-use in 
Phillips High School, identified some of the most commonly used drugs by 
students. "Pot has become more acceptible, but not many hard drugs like 
coke and heroin are used." Marijuana is not the only popular drug according 
to Feuerer. She claims that the drugs most largely used are inhalants, 
including paint and spray paint sniffing, and Nitrous Oxide (also known as 
Whippits).

Illegal use of pharmaceutical drugs is a new trend that has been going 
around in drug circles. Pain killers are alternatives to heroin-use. 
Oxycontin is one of these pain killers, and its prescriptions can be sold 
for big bucks.

Ritalin, a drug used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD), is also a 
commonly abused pharmaceutical drug. People use it to get high since it has 
the opposite effect on people without the disorder. They commonly feel a 
rush of high energy when using this drug, instead of being calmed and 
focused as it would affect a person with ADD.

According to Jarosinski, the drug Ketamine has become trendy in the past 
few years. Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic, a type of drug that 
separates perception from sensation. Other drugs belonging to this class 
include PCP and DXM, nitrous oxide.

According to the Dance Safe organization found on the Internet which 
promotes health and safety within the rave and nightclub community, 
Ketamine was originally designed for human use. Currently, it is used as an 
anaesthetic for children and people in poor health. It is also used by 
veterinarians to dull the reflexes of animals during surgery or when 
administering shots.

Ketamine is a needle-injected drug, but people take it in powder form and 
snort it. Dance Safe reports that low doses of Ketamine produce a "mild, 
dreamy feeling."

The Dance Safe Internet web-site warns users of harm done by excessive use 
of Ketamine. "Frequent use can cause disruptions in consciousness and lead 
to neuroses or other mental disorders." It is dangerous and can become 
psychologically addicting.

Jarosinski identifies the use of this drug as an ongoing problem.. Lately, 
there has been an increase in burglary of Ketamine and veterinary types of 
drugs. This new phenomenon is happening in many areas and it is most 
popular among young people.

Jarosinski reports that last year there was an extensive investigation 
involving Ketamine burglaries in Price County. So far, there has been one 
young adult convicted of his involvement in the burglaries. The 
investigation is ongoing and law enforcement officers suspect numerous 
youth to be involved.

In February and April of 2002, animal euthanasia and various veterinary 
drugs were stolen from the Phillips Veterinary Service. Jarosinski said 
that some of these drugs have fatal consequences in animals as well as 
humans. Some of these drugs were used specifically to euthanize animals.

These drugs can have fatal consequences in humans as well as animals. 
Investigation and law enforcement officers agreed that this shows the 
desperate measures of drug users risking their lives to get high.

Many users obtain information about pharmaceutical drugs over the Internet 
or out of the Physician's Desk Reference book.

Police and investigators claim that the use of illegal drugs and drug use 
can have a direct effect on the commission of other crimes. They encourage 
parents and teens to be aware of the recent trends so that they may 
identify drug use and users.

There is a confidential tip-line that Price County residents can call to 
reach police or drug investigators if they have drug tips or information. 
The number is 1-888-494-8095 and an answering machine will record your call.
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