As We See It

DESPITE A VARIETY OF EFFORTS, DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE REMAINS AN ISSUE
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

It has long been a mystery: Why do so many local kids take to
medicating themselves with alcohol and drugs?

The yearly Community Assessment Project sponsored by the United Way
of Santa Cruz County was released late last week, and it showed an
increase in teen substance use -- as well as an increase in smoking.

There are few surprises in the report. In other areas, such as health
care, employment and housing, it gives a look at Santa Cruz County
that shows a community suffering from high housing prices, but one
with good education and an economy that seems to be steady.

But after a few years of a decrease in teen drug and alcohol use, the
numbers are starting back up.

That change is discouraging, because so many community groups as well
as store owners and law enforcement officers have worked together to
fight against underage use and abuse.

The findings in the report reveal that 33 percent of ninth-graders
and 47 percent of juniors drank alcohol during the previous 30 days.
That compared to 25 percent and 37 percent statewide.

We find those figures hard to figure out. There are some areas of the
state that don't have much going on -- unlike Santa Cruz County,
where there's surf and beaches and parks and plenty of outdoor recreation.

Advertisement One explanation of the self-medication is that Santa
Cruz County overall is extremely tolerant -- particularly about
marijuana use. In the latest survey, about 80 percent of those asked
found marijuana use to be either acceptable 38.4 percent or somewhat
acceptable 41.1 percent.

The amount of drug and alcohol use is a concern, but we give a lot of
credit to the United Way and other agencies involved in the assessment project.

By looking into the issue and finding pertinent data, the agency can
work with other local non-profits and law enforcement to figure out
strategies that might work.

The assessment project helps the agencies direct available money to
programs that go after the issue. It also can detail how effective
these programs are.

Although alcohol and drug use increased a bit in the last year, the
figures had decreased in earlier years. It's our feeling that in a
county with such wide acceptance of, say, marijuana use, that it's to
be expected that young people will experiment.

The other health challenge for young people locally is obesity and
diabetes, and it appears as though local agencies are doing their
part to prevent the problem.

In the past six years, for example, the number of county residents
who exercise at least five days a week for more than 30 minutes at a
time has gone up, from 38 percent in 1999 to nearly 50 percent in 2005.

There is a value in bringing these details to the public's attention.
As always, this year's report was a mixture of good and bad trends.
But keeping track of how we live is important, because the people of
Santa Cruz County can use the data to track how we're doing -- not
only in these matters, but an overall look at our community.

The complete CAP report is available at appliedsurveyresearch.org.