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.