Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2005 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.madison.com/tct/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Section: A 10
Author: Kevin Freking, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

WHERE IS POT HOT? BOSTON, BOULDER

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 Thursday.

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.

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," he said. "But in general, I don't
think Boston has a markedly differently perspective on marijuana than
other parts of the country."

The federal report doesn't explain why certain regions fare worse than
others when it comes to smoking pot or cigarettes, or for heavy
alcohol use, only that they do.

In Boulder County, the home of the University of Colorado, 10.3
percent reported using marijuana during the same time period.

Federal officials said they highlighted the marijuana report because
it's the most commonly used illicit drug.

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.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin