Pubdate: Thu, 05 Apr 2007
Source: Martlet (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Martlet Publishing Society
Contact:  http://www.martlet.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3140
Author: Gemma Karstens-Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)

REPORT WARNS AGAINST USING DRUGS

Adolescent substance abuse is the topic of a recent paper co-authored
by Tim Stockwell, director of the Centre for Addictions Research of
British Columbia at UVic.

Released in the medical journal The Lancet on March 27, the paper
highlights the most plausible solutions to substance abuse.

"We tried to develop a guide for policy-makers," said Stockwell. "If
you're going to throw a billion dollars at the drug problem, where
should you invest?"

Called "Interventions to Reduce Harm Associated with Adolescent
Substance Use," Stockwell's paper is the fourth instalment in a series
of six papers on adolescent health in The Lancet. Stockwell said it is
a "short version" of some other projects, including a book and a
500-page report that he has worked on with co-authors.

According to the paper, "overdoses of alcohol and other drugs compete
with road crashes as the leading causes of death in young people."
Stockwell said alcohol is the largest concern and is the cause of 86
per cent of substance-related deaths in developed nations.

The paper says that although there has been a general decrease in
adolescents using drugs, they are starting to use at earlier ages.

"I'm sure in some form [the problem] has been around forever," said
Stockwell. "What's changing is the bewildering variety of drugs that
are available."

The environment surrounding adolescents using drugs, he said, has
become increasingly dangerous in recent years, and the uncertainty of
doses, lack of quality control and mixing of substances taken together
create a game of "Russian roulette."

Although demographics change what drugs kids are exposed to, Stockwell
said that all demographics are affected by the problem and there are
many different reasons why kids are turning to drugs, including
curiosity, rebellion and the fact that they know people who are doing
drugs without any obvious negative repercussions.

"Kids who don't have so many good things going for them are more
vulnerable emotionally," said Stockwell.

The paper cites regulatory interventions as the best solution to the
adolescents and drugs problem. Regulatory interventions deal with the
supply of drugs, including price controls, laws surrounding drugs and
even ignition interlocks for people convicted of drunk driving.

Other solutions outlined and critiqued by the paper include
interventions that aim to nurture "healthy development" from birth
through adolescence, treatment of existing drug problems and attempts
to prevent problems by "targeting risky contexts or patterns of use."

Stockwell explained that the media also has a role to play in solving
the problem, saying that a code of conduct should be adopted where
details of drug usage are not reported so as to prevent copycat cases.
He thinks the media should put out harm reduction messages aimed at
informing adolescents about how to keep safe.

"It can all be framed on how to take care of your friends or even your
acquaintances," he said. "We need harm reduction strategies before we
can even start thinking about regulations, law enforcement, taxation
and the rest."
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MAP posted-by: Derek