Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2000 The Abbotsford Times Contact: 30887 Peardonville Road Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada V2T 6K2 Fax: (604) 854-1140 Website: http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/ Author: Julie MacLellan, Times Reporter MORE KIDS ABUSING DRUGS Mccreary Centre Society Shows Marijuana Use Increased From 29 Per Cent In 1992 To 42 Per Cent Forbidden fruit is still enticing. Fraser Valley teens are being attracted to illegal drugs in increasing numbers, according to a report released to the Fraser Valley Health Region. The McCreary Centre Society survey looked at various issues affecting the health and welfare of teens in Mission and Chilliwack. It shows marijuana use among teens in the Fraser Valley has climbed significantly since 1992, when 29 per cent of teens said they had used marijuana. That's grown to 42 per cent. Also up are the numbers who have used marijuana 40 or more times - from nine per cent in 1992 to 15 per cent. "That's not much of a surprise," said Phil Glaister, who manages family programs for Mission Community Services. With the abundance of grow operations, he said, the drug is easily available. Relatively high numbers of teens are also using other drugs - mushrooms, hallucinogens, cocaine, amphetamines and heroin. In fact, amphetamine use among local teens is higher than the B.C. average. "The drugs that are available are scary," Glaister said. "You see it everywhere." A report on HIV/AIDS commissioned by the Fraser Valley Health Region also lists illegal drugs as a concern among young people. In particular, it singles out heroin as a concern. "Youth are smoking heroin as an entry-level drug, attracted by the ease of concealment and the lack of a lingering odour after use," it says. Dr. Gillian Arsenault, the region's medical health officer, said it's no surprise that teens don't always make wise choices. "The kids end up at risk from going into risky behaviours and doing stupid and dangerous things, in part because they're kids," she said. "Even healthy kids can make dangerous choices." It's part of what Glaister calls the "invincibility" myth - teens believe nothing bad can happen to them."Youth will not take the time to learn what they're doing to themselves," he said. Arsenault pointed out that drugs are often part of a larger problem. "If real life is too painful, being stoned is better," she said. "If real life is fun, being stoned is a pain." There isn't a simple answer to stopping drug use. The Fraser Valley has some strengths going for it, Arsenault said: strong family structures and faith communities, which help support young people. But that doesn't mean there's no problem. Arsenault said Valley residents, like anyone,tend to fall under the sway of two common myths: "This is not a problem in my family/neighbourhood/community," and "All you have to do is make something illegal and it will disappear." As to the first, she said, denial never made anything go away. And as to the second,Arsenault said making something illegal and concentrating on enforcement will never solve the problem. "God didn't have any success with it," she pointed out. Stopping teens from using drugs takes a long process of early intervention in their lives,education about the risks, supportive family and friends,treatment for those with problems. Treatment and prevention must go hand in hand, Arsenault said. "You have to do both. Otherwise you will be certainly doing nothing but putting out fires, when you aren't doing anything about the matches."