Pubdate: Tue, 01 Aug 2006 Source: Journal Gazette, The (IN) Copyright: 2006 The Journal Gazette Contact: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/908 Author: Kelly Soderlund TEENS' USE OF INJECTED DRUGS RISES Survey Finds Record Set For Meth, Heroin The use of injected drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine and steroids is at an all-time high for high school seniors statewide, according to a survey released Monday by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center. The number of students injecting drugs has increased from 1.8 percent in 2001 to 2.2 percent in 2006. Statistics for the northeast part of Indiana, which includes Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties, mirrored the statewide average. "I was surprised by the injected drug use that was elevated by 12th-graders," said Ruth Gassman, executive director of the center. Rich Beck, chief of the Allen County Sheriff Department's Reserve, said the statistics on injected drug use seem accurate for the area, based on the number of heroin-related arrests the department has made in the past year. The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University sent surveys across the state to 383 public and private schools that volunteered to administer the annual survey to 131,017 students. Fifteen schools in northeast Indiana participated and 6,979 students took the survey, Gassman said. The schools chose which students to survey, Gassman said. The purpose of the survey was to measure alcohol, tobacco and other drug use on a statewide and local basis for planning and evaluation of prevention programs. The survey did not include individual county statistics, and Gassman would not release the names of the schools that participated. Among 12th-graders, the study showed an increase in binge drinking, which Beck said is also the case in Allen County. The sheriff's department is trying to combat underage drinkingwith the Sheriff's Teenage Alcohol Reduction Team, or START. A couple of years ago, when the sheriff's office would respond to a loud party, teenagers would see police officers at the door and run out the back and climb out the windows, eventually getting into their cars while intoxicated, Beck said. Now, four officers are sent to the house to surround the area, arrest youths and prevent them from driving drunk, he said. One of the positive findings in the study included a decrease in marijuana use statewide. Except for 12th-graders, the percentage of students who reported using marijuana in northeast Indiana was lower than the state average in every grade. "I think we can attribute that to our primary prevention efforts in the schools and in the communities," Gassman said. The reported use of Ecstasy among 11th- and 12th-graders statewide increased, and 12th-graders were also more likely to report having used heroin and psychedelics during the past month and to have used Rohypnol during the past year. Much of the concern surrounding Rohypnol is its abuse as a date-rape drug. Reported use of inhalants and cocaine decreased among sixth- and eighth-graders statewide. Students were also asked in the survey about the consequences they experienced as a result of using alcohol or drugs. More than one in 10 students in grades eight through 12 reported having missed school as a consequence of drug use and an even greater percentage of students in grades seven through 12 reported having performed poorly on a test or project as a result of drug use. More than one in five high school students reported riding in a car with someone who had been drinking alcohol. About 16 percent of juniors and 20 percent of seniors reported driving a car while drunk. The study found that students involved in activities such as playing on a sports team, participating in arts, music or drama programs, supervised activities at youth center or after school classes were less likely to use cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Schools will receive their individual results at the end of the month and are at liberty to decide whether to release them publicly, Gassman said. Survey Results The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington released statistics Monday on drug and alcohol use among adolescents in Indiana. The following are statewide statistics and numbers from northeast Indiana, which includes Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties, on the percentage of students who have ever done the drug listed. Injected Drugs: Heroin, Methamphetamines And Steroids Grade+Indiana+Northeast region Sixth+0.9+0.5 Ninth+1.8+2.0 12th+2.2+2.1 Marijuana Grade+Indiana+Northeast region Sixth+2.9+1.5 Ninth+22.5+18.9 12th+37.1+39.1 Cocaine Grade+Indiana+Northeast region Sixth+0.6+0.6 Ninth+4.4+4.6 12th: 8.6+9.7 Source: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman