By Ellen Ast
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 12:00 am
Preliminary data show, among other things, a rise in tobacco, pot use among youths and young adults
More Oregon youth in eighth through 11th grade smoke marijuana than tobacco cigarettes, according to new information released today by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
And for the first time since 1998, the rate of
18- to 24-year-olds who smoke cigarettes every day exceeds the national rate.
These and other findings have prompted the state agency to make a new push toward prevention of substance abuse.
DHS plans to develop a long-term substance prevention plan after it releases, in July, the most recent detailed data on alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use.
The program is paid for by a three-year, $200,000 grant from the federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which says it wants to use more data to drive decisions, according to DHS officials.
DHS will reveal data for Oregon's 36 counties and larger cities this summer.
According to preliminary data, Oregonians drink more alcohol than the national average and rank fourth in alcohol-related deaths.
"That was a very big surprise to me," said Geralyn Brennan, the state's epidemiologist who leads the program. "We didn't realize we were in such a state."
Brennan told the Democrat-Herald the number of alcohol-related deaths among women has doubled.
Bob Nikkel, DHS assistant director of addictions and mental health programs, said Oregon's drift from a national trend showing a decrease in underage drinking calls for stronger prevention.
Nikkel said parents must make an effort to reduce the amount of abusive substances at home.
DHS data show levels of tobacco and drug use and related deaths to be double the national rate.
Adult deaths from lung cancer, emphysema and other severe respiratory diseases in Oregon have been above the nation's rate for five consecutive years.