Pubdate: Sun, 28 Nov 2004 Source: Gadsden Times, The (AL) Copyright: 2004 The Gadsden Times Contact: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1203 Author: Cindy West, Times Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ALABAMA STUDENT DRUG USE IS BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE Although illegal drug and alcohol use is below the national average, the results of a recent survey might still be disturbing to some. A statewide survey released by the Alabama Department of Education found that 21 percent of students in grades six through 12 had used an illegal drug at least once during the past year. That figure is 3 percent lower than the national average, according to a department press release. Almost half those students - 47 percent - drank alcohol, a figure that was also 3 percent below the national average, according to the PRIDE Survey conducted of 262,050 students during the 2003-2004 school year. The PRIDE Survey is widely used to determine the extent and nature of violent activities and illegal drug and alcohol use among adolescents, according to the press release. Of the 46,601 sixth-graders who were surveyed, almost 12 percent said they used cigarettes and almost 16 percent said they used beer during the past year. Most of those who drank beer reported getting "very high or bombed" when they drank, according to the survey results. Almost 5 percent of sixth-graders said they had used marijuana in the past year. More than 2 percent said they had used cocaine, and 2 percent said they had used hallucinogens. Alabama students fall above the national average in one category, cigarette smoking. "The survey showed E while 32 percent of students in Alabama reported tobacco use in the past year, this level is higher compared to the 30 percent reported by students nationwide," according to the press release. "Ironically, the survey shows a large gap between what parents think their children are doing, what they are actually doing - and more importantly - when and where they're doing it," according to the press release. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek