Youth First Study

THERES A POSITIVE TREND AMONG TEENAGERS. NEW RESEARCH SAYS THE USE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA IS ON THE DECLINE. " THE LATEST SURVEY OF NEARLY SIX THOUSAND AREA TEENS SHOWS IMPROVEMENT IN THE PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA. YOUTH FIRST, AN ORGANIZATION THATS MISSION IS TO REDUCE TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELEASED THE FIGURES THIS MORNING. SOME CATEGORIES HAVE DROPPED AS MUCH AS 50-PERCENT SINCE 1999. THEY SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THE DECLINE. Dr. William Wooten: "Were looking at parental attitude, law enforcement, health care providers, school programs, community efforts, theres a whole host of things at work here." ONE OF THE PROBLEMS FOCUSED ON IS BINGE DRINKING. THE PROBLEM INCREASED STATEWIDE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT DECLINED AMONG 8TH AND 12TH GRADERS IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA STILL MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF AREA SENIORS REPORT BINGE DRINKING. BUT WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ALL THIS? WE ASKED A FEW PLAYING BASKETBALL AT MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL. Memorial HS Student: " Im kind of surprised, Ive heard more and more about people going to parties drinking this year than last year." OTHERS NOT SO SURPRISED. Memorial HS Student: "A lot of people have seen what its done to older people, people have gotten involved in clubs, Snowflake, Tide, figured out that its really bad for you." THESE KIDS SAY ONE FACTOR THATS HELPED STEER THEM CLEAR OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE, IS SPORTS. AND WHILE THEY SAY PEER PRESSURE DOES EXIST, ITS ALL IN HOW YOU HANDLE IT. Student: "I think as long as you find good friends, your freshman year, that arent going to do that, youll be fine, carry it through." AND THATS THE ATTITUDE YOUTH FIRST MEMBERS HOPE WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD AMONG TEENAGERS. THE SURVEY WAS ANONYMOUSLY GIVEN TO 8TH, 10TH, AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN WARRICK AND EVANSVILLE-VANDERBURGH COUNTY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE