Pubdate: Mon, 13 Nov 2006
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2006 The Day Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Jennifer Grogan

SURVEY PROFILES STUDENT DRUG USE

Waterford Officials to Discuss Results

Waterford -- Local officials and school representatives  will meet 
tonight to discuss the results of a  drug-and-alcohol survey that was 
given to middle school  and high school students at the end of last 
school  year.

The main findings of the survey were that there is a  significant 
increase in the consumption of drugs and  alcohol between middle 
school and high school;  teenagers are experimenting with drugs and 
alcohol but  most are not persistent users; and smokers are more 
likely to use drugs and alcohol.

The average age of trying alcohol, cigarettes and  marijuana was 13 
to 14 years old.

State Sen. Andrea Stillman and Rep. Betsy Ritter, First  Selectman 
Daniel Steward, school Superintendent Randall  Collins, police Chief 
Murray Pendleton and the  consultant for the survey, Archie Swindell, 
will  present the results of the 2006 Drug Abuse Prevention  Youth 
Survey and answer questions from the public from  6 until 7:30 p.m. 
in the Town Hall auditorium.

Half of the students in grades 7 through 10 took the  online survey 
from May 30 until June 8. The students  were randomly selected from 
each class, for a total of  519 participants. The survey was similar 
to those given  in other towns, such as Groton and Norwich.

Susan Radway, director of the town's Youth Services  Bureau, said 
towns are conducting surveys because the  state and federal 
government is asking for data to  support grant requests. The 
Waterford survey was funded  by a grant from the Ledge Light Health 
District and the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention coalition.

"You need to know what the issue is in your community  and you need 
to have factual data to show why you  develop the programs that you 
do," Radway said. "When  you don't have local facts, it's easy for 
people to say  'That's not us, it's not our community.' We found that 
Waterford is like other communities around. ...

"This is not just a young person's issue, it's an adult  issue too," 
Radway said. "It's access. You can't drink  alcohol or smoke 
cigarettes if you don't have access,  and adults are responsible for 
that access."

The findings include the fact that a majority of teens  are involved 
in an after-school sport or exercise  programs; cigarette smoking is 
lower than the national  average; and teens perceive the risk of 
smoking  cigarettes as significant.

Radway said the town needs to focus on educational  programs during 
the transition from middle school to  high school and implement 
smoking-cessation programs  and additional after-school programs.

Steward said he hopes the survey will raise awareness  in the community.

"Children have a way of accessing alcohol and drugs,"  he said. "The 
challenge is to find a way to keep them  from doing illegal things. 
We need other alternatives  for children to do to keep them active 
and away from  alcohol and drugs."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine