HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND DRUG USE REPORT ISSUED

SALISBURY- The Center for Substance Abuse Research, using data from the
1999 Monitoring the Future survey, reports that for the past several years,
one-half of high school seniors reported using alcohol in the past month.

Fifty one percent reported using alcohol in the past month.

Twenty-three percent reported marijuana use. Cigarettes and smokeless
tobacco products were reportedly used in the last month by 34.6 percent and
8.4 percent of high school seniors respectively. All other drugs
(amphetamines, hallu-cinogens cocaine, crack, heroin, etc) were used by
less than 5 per-cent of the seniors. "It appears that alcohol continues to
reign supreme as the drug of choice of fourth year high schoolers,"
remarked Jim Freeman, director of business development for Hudson Health
Services, Inc. in Sallsbury. The data indicates that 8 to 10 percent of
these 51 percent drinking seniors will develop a problem with alcohol.

I hear parents and relatives say they know the students are using alcohol
but at least they are not using drugs.

Alcohol is a drug and can lead to huge problems for both the user and the
families, besides it is illegal for students to drink alcohol. Once an
addiction to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs takes hold, it is a
lifelong struggle.

Like a roller coaster that never ends, it's only fun in the beglnning
suggests Mr. Freeman. Hudson Health Services, Inc. offers drug and alcohol
treatment services to both adults and adolescents ( ages 12-18) and can be
reached at 410-219-9000.