Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB) Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502 Author: Jason Bell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TEENS ADMIT TO BINGES The Message Gets Through, But Then It's Often Ignored An alarming number of Manitoba high school seniors admit to binge-boozing, while many teens say they continue to climb into vehicles knowing the person behind the wheel has either been drinking or smoking pot. Nearly 55 per cent of boys and 40 per cent of girls in Grade 12 said they consumed five or more drinks on one night of drinking at least once last year, according to a recent survey by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. Forty per cent of the boys said they had eight or more drinks at one time, while 20 per cent of girls admitted they did likewise. "That's very concerning to us," said John Borody, executive director of AFM. "Having eight drinks in one sitting is very harmful, not only in the sense of your health, but also in the sense of all the social things that can happen when you become that intoxicated." The survey, entitled Alcohol and Other Drug Use by Manitoba Students and conducted in November and December, involved 58 schools in the province and over 6,500 students from grades 7 to 12. The survey shows the number of teens who admit they've tried alcohol hasn't increased in the last decade. But the amount they drink is increasing. Yesterday, several youths outside Kelvin High School said heavy drinking is simply a Winnipeg weekend ritual. "You see kids with all the stress from the week -- if their parents get mad at them or their classes get to them -- and it all comes out on the weekend and they just binge-drink hard," said Rob Ament, 17, a Grade 12 student. "There's parties like that every weekend." Lori Middendorp, program supervisor for youth community-based programs at AFM, said high school students aren't usually considered social drinkers. "We hear from kids that say they don't typically have that glass of wine with dinner. They drink with the intent to get drunk," she said. "With that five-to eight- (drink) level, you're impacting your ability to make rash decisions -- getting into a car with someone or driving yourself, not managing your feelings and getting into a fight with someone, or not understanding the way your girlfriend is communicating and making decisions that are going to get you in trouble later." Just as concerning to the AFM is the admission by high school students that they have ridden in vehicles driven by someone who has been either drinking or smoking marijuana. About 50 per cent of boys and about 40 per cent of girls in grades 11 and 12 say they've taken a ride knowing the driver was at least partially impaired. And about 20 to 25 per cent of students said they had driven within an hour of having a drink. Borody said the results show agencies like AFM have more work to do in the way of education and prevention. He said past surveys only asked kids if they thought it was appropriate to drink and drive. "They know it's a bad thing to do. That's one thing," he said. "But when you find out that they're actually ignoring what they think and following the harmful behaviour, (that) is one of our concerns." One long-time educator said the fact students admit they've travelled with drivers who've been drinking marks a major shift in thinking. "It wasn't so long ago there was a movement by students to have designated drivers at all functions and activities," said Hugh Fraser, principal at Windsor Park Collegiate and a past-president of the Canadian Association of Principals. "If kids are saying they are getting into cars with other kids who've been drinking, that's a concern." With that in mind, the AFM will continue to partner with educators and health officials around the province to ensure education programs on alcohol and substance abuse are part of the school curriculum, Borody said. Messages also need to be geared to students in grades 5 and 6, he said. Results of the survey can be found on the foundation website at www.afm.mb.ca. SIDEBAR Bad teen behavior, by the numbers Some results from the Manitoba School Alcohol and Other Drug Use Survey - -2004, by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba * 10 per cent of Grade 7 students tried cigarette smoking * 60 per cent of Grade 9 students consumed alcohol * 45 per cent of Grade 12 students drank more than once a month * 30 per cent of Grade 10 students had five or more drinks at least once * 50 per cent of Grade 12 students smoked marijuana * 5 per cent of Grade 10 students used cocaine * 20 per cent of Grade 12 students drove within an hour of drinking * 40 per cent of Grade 11 students rode in a vehicle with a driver who had smoked cannabis - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager