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To the Editor:
Americans heard much discussion lately about the increasing use of drugs by teenagers and children across the nation. For many, the recurring problem of increasing drug use by children may have come as a surprise.
For over a decade, drug use among teenagers both locally and nationally had been declining steadily. This trend came to a halt in 1992, and since then, drug use among children has increased sharply.
The national organization PRIDE Parent Training, an anti-drug organization based in Atlanta, helps to train parents and families in preventing and fighting drug use in the home and in our communities. Each year, PRIDE conducts a study of drug use nationwide by teenagers, and the results for 1996, released by PRIDE in late September, were not good.
Across the country, nearly one in five 12th graders used drugs at least once a week, an increase of 88 percent from 1987-1988. Almost 27 percent of these children use drugs once a month, and over 40 percent used drugs on an annual basis, up from 28 percent just eight years ago. These figures are the highest recorded since PRIDE began these studies nine years ago.
Regrettably, all drugs are making a comeback with young people. Among 12th graders, 38 percent have used marijuana within'the last year and 7 percent have used cocaine; 11.6 percent have used "uppers"; 12 percent have used hallucinogens, and almost 4 percent have used heroin in the last year.
Obviously, we cannot stand by and watch our nation's young fall victim to the plague of drugs. I am pleased to report that this community and region
97.5%