Pubdate: Sat, 03 Jun 2000 Source: Medford Mail Tribune (OR) Copyright: 2000 The Mail Tribune Contact: PO Box 1108, Medford OR 97501 Fax: (541) 776-4376 Website: http://www.mailtribune.com/ Forum: http://www.mailtribune.com/speak_out/ Editor's note: The editor of the Mail Tribune states the paper can only publish letters from residents within their Southern Oregon and Northern California circulation area. SCARY SURVEY Drug Use Stats Show That The War Is Far From Over When you first looked at the headline it sort of took your breath away: "Oregon drug use tripled in late '90s." Why the gasp? Increases in drug abuse have been part of the scene since the '60s. Meth-makers and marijuana-growers have a long-history of operating here. They found Southern Oregon receptive -- in terrain, climate and often in the attitudes of the residents of these Western hollers. Sure, the war on drugs has never ended. But most of us thought some battles had been won, some progress made. But consider what a state Human Services Department survey found: Illegal drug use more than tripled in Oregon from 1995 through 1999, surpassing alcohol abuse for the first time ever. Illicit drug use increased from 3.1 percent of the Oregon adult population in 1995 to 10.3 percent in 1999, an alarming 232 percent increase. Alcohol abuse showed a 26 percent decrease -- from 10.5 percent of the population in 1995 to 7.8 percent in 1999. Fifteen percent of Oregonians abused either alcohol or drugs in 1999, a 25 percent increase from 1995, according the survey. There will be mixed emotions about this survey because of its unusually large increase indicated for illicit drug use. But the survey appears to have been a good one: 12,017 people across the state were queried. That's a lot compared to most political surveys in Oregon. The margin of error on the drug survey was just 0.7 percent. What should we make of this survey? It's hard to say: Even health officials were unable to explain the apparent dramatic increase in substance abuse. We're not saying that there is cause for widespread alarm. We are saying that all Oregonians should pay attention to these figures and those in positions to do so should review and analyze the survey's methodology and outcome. We're betting that the figures are valid indicators of a continuing serious substance abuse problem among Oregonians, young and old, just as there is everywhere. For illicit drugs, their use and abuse began in the '60s and continues today, while alcohol abuse has been with us always. The cavalier attitude of some people to substance abuse is one contributor to the societal malaise that perpetuates that abuse. Agency people already invested in anti-substance abuse programs and lay persons who are interested should come together and begin a new war on drugs. A consensus on how and where this war should be fought must be reached -- both now in the short term, and far beyond the year 2000. This survey raises questions and fears, but it also should raise our awareness that the fight against drug abuse is far from over. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson