Pubdate: Tue, 21 Feb 2006
Source: Thunder Bay Source (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Thunder Bay Source
Contact:  http://www.tbsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3129
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TRENDS IDENTIFIED IN TEEN DRUG SURVEY

Good And Bad News From Thunder Bay's District Health Unit.

A new student drug survey says tobacco use among teens is down. But 
the use of hard drugs, like cocaine and crack is on the rise.

During an afternoon video conference Tuesday, the Thunder Bay and the 
Northwestern Health units discussed the trends and identified 
possible solutions.

Epidemiologist Lee Sieswerda led off the conference by outlining his 
latest findings which are both encouraging and troubling.

One of the encouraging findings is tobacco use is down by over one 
third in the student population. But alcohol use in Northwestern 
Ontario remains above the provincial average, as does the use of 
cannabis, LSD and Oxycontin. Even more troubling is a rise in use of 
hard street drugs like crack and cocaine.

Sieswerda says the health unit now plans to focus on reducing access 
to the hard drugs in schools and on the streets place more emphasis 
on harm reduction strategies. One of the more successful initiatives 
being used is the Natural Helpers Peer Mentor Project.

OPP Tri Force Drug Unit S. Sgt. Brian Brattengeier says the survey 
seems to reflect what his officers are seeing on the street. 
Oxycontin, crack, cocaine and methamphetamines continue to dominate 
the Tri Force units focus but he says initiatives like the natural 
helpers project gives him some hope.

While the numbers are troubling, the overall message is a positive 
one. Thanks to the survey, everyone knows and understands the 
challenges ahead and can now work together to overcome them.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom