Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Standard-Times (MA)
Copyright: 2005 The Standard-Times
Contact:  http://www.s-t.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/422
Author:  Kevin Freking, Associated Press

NEW REPORT FINDS BOSTON UP IN SMOKE

WASHINGTON --  Both college towns, Boston and Boulder, Colo., share another
distinction: They  lead the nation in marijuana use. Northwestern Iowa and
southern Texas have the  lowest use.

For the first time, the government looked at the use of drugs, cigarettes,
alcohol and various other substances, legal as well as illegal, by region
rather than by state for a report yesterday.

Regions could be as specific as Riverside, Calif., or as broad as all of the
state of New York  (minus New York City). Federal officials say the
information will help states decide where they should spend money for
treatment and prevention programs.

For  marijuana, 5.1 percent of people around the country reported using
marijuana in the previous 30 days. In Boston, the home of Boston University,
Boston College, Northeastern and several other colleges, 12.2 percent
reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days. In Boulder County, the
home of the University of Colorado, 10.3 percent reported using  marijuana
during the same time period.

John  Auerbach, executive director of the public health commission for the
city of Boston, said the survey might not reflect current marijuana use in
Boston because the data came from 1999-2001 national surveys.

"All that said, we're not surprised that substance abuse is a serious issue
in the Boston  area," Auerbach said. "The mayor and the health department
have made the issue  of substance abuse a top public health priority."

Auerbach also acknowledged that the data may reflect the city's significant
20-something  population.

"College  students in general have a more relaxed attitude about marijuana
than other age  groups. But in general, I don't think Boston has a markedly
differently perspective on marijuana than other parts of the country."

Federal officials said they highlighted the marijuana report because it's
the most commonly used illicit drug. But the survey also measures 11 other
categories.

For example,  the survey measures binge drinking -- defined as five or more
drinks in one setting.

Nationally, 20 percent of people age 12 and older reported one or more
episodes of binge  drinking during the previous month.

Boston scored  high in that category, too, with nearly 30 percent of
respondents acknowledging  binge drinking. But the Northeast and Southeast
regions of North Dakota reported  binge drinking among 32 percent of
residents of that age group. Overall, North  Dakota had the highest rate of
binge drinking when compared with other states -- 29.2 percent.

"The further north you are, typically, the more alcohol is consumed," said
Douglas Wright, a mathematical statistician with the federal government who
helped put the report together.
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MAP posted-by: Josh