From: [C reuters] at [clari.net] (Reuters)
Newsgroups: clari.local.california.northern,clari.local.california.southern.misc,clari.news.alcohol+drugs,clari.news.education.misc,clari.local.california.southern,clari.news.education
Subject: More Calif. students experiment with drugs-survey
Organization: Copyright 1996 by Reuters
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 17:20:06 PDT
Expires: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 17:20:06 PDT
                                         
         SACRAMENTO, Calif (Reuter) - Nearly half of all eleventh  
grade students in California have experimented with drugs in 
recent months, a sharp increase over usage four years ago, 
according to a statewide survey released Monday. 
         ``Over the past four years, we have witnessed a dramatic  
increase in drug use among students -- back to the levels that 
rival peaks 10 years ago,'' California Attorney General Dan 
Lungren said. His office co-sponsored the survey. 
         More than one in four seventh graders have experimented with  
drugs in the last six months. More than 40 percent of ninth 
graders and almost half of eleventh graders have experimented 
with drugs in the past six months, Lungren said. 
         ``Those are shocking statistics,'' Lungren said.  
         Nearly 43 percent of eleventh grade students said they used  
marijuana in the last six months, compared to 29.4 percent four 
years ago, according to the survey. 
         Nearly 11 percent of ninth graders used amphetamines in  
recent months versus 3.3 percent four years ago. The use of 
heroin, LSD and cocaine also increased. 
         Lungren, who held a news conference in Sacramento to  
announce the results of the survey, criticized companies that 
use ``emaciated, pale models with dark circles under their eyes, 
known as the 'Heroin Chic' look, to sell clothing.'' 
         He said the advertisements glamorized heroin.  
         The California survey tracked a recent federal study that  
found that drug use among teen-agers more than doubled from 1992 
to 1995, prompting Republican charges that the Clinton 
administration was to blame. 
         ``This is a warning to everyone -- parents, teachers,  
government, the media and communities,'' California's Republican 
Gov. Pete Wilson said of the state survey. 
''Leadership on the war on drugs must come from the top. Looking 
at the frightening growth in drug use and acceptance, it appears 
the president decided to dodge the fight.'' 
         The California survey polled public school students in  
grades 7, 9 and 11. The survey, which began in 1985, was 
co-sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, the state 
Department of Education, the Department of Alcohol and Drug 
Programs and the Department of Health Services.