Pubdate: Wed, 22 Dec 2004
Source: Lincoln Journal Star (NE)
Copyright: 2004 Lincoln Journal Star
Contact:  http://www.journalstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/561
Author: Margaret Reist, Lincoln Journal Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FEWER LINCOLN TEENS SMOKING OR USING DRUGS

Lincoln's teens appear to be following a national trend, with fewer of
them smoking or using drugs.

A federal study showed both smoking and drug use among young people
declined again this year. The number of teens who smoked declined
dramatically.

In Lincoln and Lancaster County, the biggest drop was in the number of
smokers.

In 1992, 72.8 percent of ninth-to 12th-graders reported smoking. That
dropped to 49.2 percent in 2003.

"On the cigarette front we've got some really good data," said Steve
Frederick of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. "We're
kind of holding our breath to see if the 2005 data shows the same thing."

The data comes from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Study of ninth-
through 12th-graders in Lincoln and Lancaster County. The study is
done every two years.

The study showed drug use also declined but not as
much:

4.6 percent of teens had tried methamphetamine, compared with the
peak of 8 percent in 2001.

5.2 percent of teens had used cocaine, compared with the peak of 9.4
in 1997.

11.1 percent of teens had used inhalants, compared with 15.8 percent
in 1995, the first year the question was asked.

37.8 percent of teens had smoked marijuana, a number that has
remained relatively constant. The lowest point was in 1993, when 26.1
percent of teens reported using marijuana.

Statistics on youth drinking also have remained fairly constant,
Frederick said. The 77.9 percent of teens who reported drinking in
1991 compares with 73 percent in 2003.
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