Pubdate: Thu, 25 Nov 2004 Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB) Copyright: 2004 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503 Author: Dean Pritchard, Staff Reporter Cited: Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse survey http://www.ccsa.ca/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) LOOK WHO'S TOKIN' 'Tobans Sparking Up at Increased Rates: Study Manitobans love their pot, now more than ever. According to a newly released Health Canada report, 13.4% of Manitobans reported sparking up a joint in the past year, up from 7.5% in 1994. Since 1994, the number of Canadians who report smoking marijuana has nearly doubled, jumping to 14% from 7.4%. Seventy per cent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 have reported smoking pot, while 30% of teens 15 to 17 reported smoking up in the past year. Nearly 14,000 Canadians 15 years of age and older were interviewed in the telephone survey. "As a health agency, we are concerned," said John Borody, chief executive officer of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. The survey doesn't attempt to explain the apparent increase, but Borody suggested aging baby boomers may be to blame. 'They Look Normal' "What we are seeing in the culture is that the baby boomers of the '60s and '70s have now become parents, and maybe some of the youth are looking at their parents and saying 'Well, we know a large proportion of them are using and they look normal.' "The bottom line is the number is up. Now we have to assess why." The study also tracked alcohol use among Canadians. Seventy-nine per cent of respondents reported drinking alcohol in the past year. Among past year drinkers, 17% are high-risk drinkers, one-third of whom are 30 years of age or younger. Manitobans scored higher than the national average when it comes to heavy frequent drinking and monthly heavy drinking. "We aren't against alcohol use," Borody said. "What we are for is more responsible use." Drug and alcohol prevention programs must target youth at a younger age, Borody said. "Right now we have been having discussions with Manitoba Education and the school districts and we have been talking about doing this at Grades 5 and 6," he said, adding in a previous survey, 37% of Grade 7 students have reported trying alcohol. "Between 12 and 13 quite a large number try for first time, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, in that order." The new survey findings come at a time when the Addictions Foundation has had its provincial funding for drug and alcohol programming cut by $600,000 a year. "This study shows a greater need for services like ours, not a reduced need," Borody said. Tory health critic Myrna Driedger called the funding cut a "very short-sighted decision that can have a profound impact on treating addiction problems." "When you see results like this it just reinforces that the government made a bad decision," Driedger said." Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald said she's concerned more teens are experimenting with pot and alcohol. "That's something we all need to be concerned about -- parents, teachers, coaches and the community," she said. Oswald said there are counselors working in 58 schools, helping teens with drinking, drug and gambling problems. Oswald said she would be open to providing additional funding to the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. "I certainly wouldn't rule out an increase in funding, but I wouldn't commit to it today either," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake