Region Ranks High in Juvenile Use of Alcohol, Tobacco

Source from:  By TARA HETTINGER Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com 09/02/2008

Sixth-graders report higher use than state average. Monthly use of tobacco products and alcohol among sixth-graders is "significantly higher" in the Southeast region of Indiana, including Clark and Floyd counties, than in the rest of the state. The same is true for 12th grade. That's according to the annual youth drug use survey by Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University. Overall, the survey found drug use among sixth- through 12th-graders in the state is down. Southeast Indiana sixth-graders were more likely to have tried cigarettes, cigars, alcohol and marijuana than kids across Indiana. More than 26 percent have had a drink and more than 3 percent have smoked marijuana. Nearly 15 percent have tried a cigarette. Indiana high school seniors are also more likely than Hoosier classmates as a whole to use those substances monthly. Nearly 42 percent of 12-graders in the 19-county region drink alcohol monthly, and 17.3 percent use marijuana that frequently. The results came from a sample of 448 schools and 152,732 sixth-through-12th-graders attending public and private schools who chose to participate. The state, including this region, is seeing an increase of high school students using smokeless tobacco. For 11th graders, daily usage was reported at 2.9 percent in 2001. Now, that is at 3.6 percent. "These findings point to a distinct possibility that students in the older grades are replacing cigarette use with smokeless tobacco," said Ruth Gassman, the resource center's executive director. "The reasons for substitution may have to do with cigarette price increases and/or smoking prohibition in public places." Locally, schools are working to make sure students know that all drugs are not safe, including smokeless tobacco products. Greater Clark County Schools utilizes Drugless Douglas, a large, blue bear, who goes around and lets children in the younger grades know to say no to drugs. Clarksville Community Schools Corp. randomly drug tests those who participate in an extracurricular activities, such as band and football, or drive to school. This is the school system's third year for the program. "I think the drug testing has really helped," said Steve Fisher, superintendent at CCSC said.. "Kids now have to think twice [before using drugs], because they could lose a season [in their activity] or their driving privileges." At New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. students can alert school officials of suspected drug activity anonymously via the corporation's Web site. All three corporations also teach students about the consequences of drug use in health classes in middle and high school. "We're doing what we can to let them know of the dangers," Fisher said. "And we're cracking down on it when we get it." Travis Haire, director of student services at Greater Clark, said he is proud of the corporation's second chance program in the high schools. If students get caught using drugs or alcohol, they are given one more chance before being expelled. However, they have to attend a certain amount of counseling sessions or drug awareness classes first and are subject to drug testing. Haire said after seeing the results of the latest survey, he is planning on expanding that program to the middle school level this year. "I just really believe in that program," he said. "Not only are we giving them a second chance to let them know how important education is, we're also getting them [more] drug education as well." More than just schools, Haire said the community needs to work together to eliminate drug use by children. He said drug use can lead to dropping out of school and entering the juvenile correctional system earlier, which costs taxpayers and uses up the area's resources. "It still just needs to be a team effort," Haire said. "The more times they hear it, from teachers, parents, their coaches ... the more times we can get in front of them, the better it's going to get through. "We need to continue our focus on that as a community. It's not just a school issue. It's a community issue." Enditem