STUDY SITES MAJOR CAUSES FOR DRUG USE

As Fort Pierce city and police officials and concerned members of the
community discuss ways of reducing crime in the city's northwest area,
particularly as it affects youth, a national survey released this week may
prove helpful in addressing some possible steps to be taken.

In meetings Monday and earlier this month, young people and adults in the
crime-plagued northwest section of the city urged more activities be made
available for youth to steer them away from negative activities such as
crime and drug use.

Boredom is one of the leading causes for drug abuse among teenagers,
according to an annual back-to-school drug use survey conducted by The
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

According to the survey of 12- to 17-year-olds, bored teenagers are 50
percent likelier than teens who are not frequently bored to smoke, drink,
get drunk and use illegal drugs.

The other culprits found in the survey were high stress and a large amount
of spending money. Those with high stress are twice as likely to use drugs.
Those with $25 or more per week in spending money are nearly twice as
likely to use drugs. Those teens with two or more of those characteristics
are three times more likely to use drugs than those with none of the
characteristics.

Among suggestions offered by the center for parents are: Be engaged in your
children's lives by helping them with their homework, attending their
sports events and participating in activities together; know who your
children's friends are; limit the amount of money your children have to
spend and monitor how the money is spent; and understand why your children
are bored and help relieve their boredom.

That last suggestion is one in which the community may need to become more
involved. Parents who may be struggling financially and who may have to
work long or extra jobs may not have the resources or the time for assuring
that their children have constructive activities with which to be involved.

Organized programs can be of major value. And, while there are such
programs in Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County, there may not be enough to
satisfy the needs of the youth in the community.

Youth in the community have indicated they want to see a stop in crime.
They need the support of adults to see that happen.