Pubdate: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 Source: Sacramento Bee (CA) Copyright: 2004 The Sacramento Bee Contact: http://www.sacbee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376 Author: Ed Fletcher Referenced: the survey http://www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navid=254 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens) DRUG, ALCOHOL USE DIPS AMONG TEENS Fewer California teens are experimenting with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, according to a new statewide survey released Wednesday. The two-year study also showed fewer "heavy users" and decreased use of marijuana, LSD and Ecstasy among 11th-graders. The California Student Survey was sponsored by the state attorney general's office, the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs and the Department of Education. Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, hailed the news as evidence that state programs aimed at changing behavior work. The drop in alcohol and drug use among teens in seventh, ninth and 11th grades ranged from 3 percent to 6 percent in some categories. Other measures of teen substance use were unchanged from 2001-02 results. The biennial survey, conducted since 1985, queried 10,351 randomly selected students at 112 middle and high schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake