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REPORT CITES DECLINE IN DRUG USE

An analysis of drug use among area teens revealed mixed results for Jackson County's drug prevention efforts, uncovering moderate declines in the use of some drugs and increases in others.

Compared with other teens in the metro, a smaller portion of Jackson County eighth graders reported using cigarettes, alcohol, smokeless tobacco, opiates, inhalants and downers.  How ever, they reported higher rates of experience with marijuana, PCP, cocaine, uppers and steroids.

Results were more encouraging among 10th and 12th graders, with a lower portion of Jackson County teens reporting experience with 10 of 12 surveyed drugs.  Drug use among Jackson County teens decreased in most categories as compared with five years ago with the exception of marijuana, which increased at all three grade levels.

The findings, presented Monday before the Jackson County Legislature, are based on an analysis of data collected in the 1995, 1998 and 1999 annual Kauffman Foundation Survey of teen drug use in the Kansas City area.  The survey is voluntary and asks teens about their experience with 12 types of substances.  About 2,500 to 3,500 teens, in Missouri and Kansas schools, participate each year.

Researcher Wayne Lucas, a professor of sociology at University of Missouri-Kansas City, said "prevention programs in the county are likely to account for the reduced levels of drug use among Jackson County youth."

Lucas and staff of the county's COMBAT anti-drug program, presented the study results Monday.  The Legislature has been asking COMBAT staff to produce some solid numbers to demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-drug programs.

"I think what is important to see here is that something is happening in Jackson County that is not happening in other places around the city," said Jim Nunnelly, COMBAT program director.

Nunnelly told legislators to take encouragement from the decreases in drug use over the past five years, a period in which many other areas have suffered an increase in youth drug use.

"Something is happening, and that is encouraging," he said.

Despite the moderate declines, though, legislators seemed distressed at the numbers of youth still involved with drugs.  Almost 68 percent of eighth graders reported experience with alcohol and more than 32 percent admitted experience with marijuana.  Those numbers increased to 84 percent and 55 percent, respectively, among 12th grade students.

"I suppose we could arrest 55 percent of the 12th graders, but then what is the point.  I think this study just points out the need for more education and prevention activities," said Dan Tarwater, D-4th District, chairman of the Legislature's Anti-Drug Committee.

Nunnelly said COMBAT staff will use this research and other result-based data to refine and focus prevention programs.

"The key seems to be to start earlier and really surround the at-risk youth," Nunnelly said.

In other business Monday, the Legislature:

Renewed the county's participation in the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Kansas City Metropolitan Enforcement Task Force, extending the cooperative agreement with the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.

Renewed annual appropriations to cover lease bond payments on lease revenue bonds released in 1994, 1996 and 1997 and renewed the lease financing agreement with the Jackson County Sports Authority for the Truman Sports Complex.

Appropriated about $5.58 million from the 2001 Public Building Corporation D Capital Projects fund to build a new Public Works maintenance and headquarters facility.

Forwarded a grant of $28,004 from the Missouri Emergency Response Commission to the Mid-America Regional Council for emergency planning.

Appropriated a $5,100 grant from the Ewing Kauffman Foundation to cover the KC Delegation Site Visit D East Harlem program.

Offered formal congratulations to McCoy Elementary School upon its receipt of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Gold Star Award.

Adopted an agreement with Independence allowing the county to install and operate a storm water transmission main through the Little Blue Trace Park.

Approved the purchase of solid waste disposal treatment services from Lee's Summit for use by the Parks and Recreation Department, at a cost to the county of $9,000.

Awarded a contract for pump maintenance for the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments to ASC Service of Lenexa, Kan., in the amount of $20,000.

Purchased CAMA software for the Management Information Systems Department from Sigma Systems Technology of Wil liamsville, NY, in the amount of $18,900.

Appropriated $35,000 from the 2001 Anti-Drug Sales Tax Fund to cover monthly rental payments for the Judge Mason Center.

Approved an agreement with the Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste District to provide access to the regional household hazardous waste centers for residents of the unincorporated areas of the county at a cost of $9,700.