Sure, we knew teenagers smoke and drink but it appears that drug use among Belizean children might be much worse than we first thought.
According to a new study, at least 3 out of every 4 high school students had taken an alcoholic drink within the past year and 1 out of every 5 high school student is a cigarette smoker.
The frightening statistics are from a survey conducted two years ago by the National Drug Abuse Control Council. The full report will be released on Friday but the media was given a preview today. NDACC's research officer Kim Longsworth told Keith Swift what will be in the 105-page report and why you should care.
Kim Longsworth, NDACC Research Officer
"The study was conducted about two years ago. We are actually releasing it now, which is a bit late, because we had to a do re-analysis of the survey which was done in Washington. It was conducted among high school students, second and fourth year across the country and basically what we were looking for were trends and patterns of use and any drugs that they were currently using."
Keith Swift,
"Did anything that you find shock you guys here at NDACC?"
Kim Longsworth,
"Well actually we speculate a lot about what is going because we knew that marijuana was on the increase and tobacco was also on the increase but what were shocked to find out was that use of tobacco actually tripled. We noticed that a lot more females are using drugs than say a couple of years ago. We also noticed that there was the introduction of new drugs like Ecstasy, Heroin, hard drugs - teenagers are experimenting more with tranquilizers and inhalers which was surprising to us."
Keith Swift,
"And this is in our high schools?"
Kim Longsworth,
"That's right."
Keith Swift,
"Among teenagers?"
Kim Longsworth,
"Among teenagers"
Keith Swift,
"Some of the figures you have released already are for example that 3 out of ever 4 students has taken a drink in the past year. Is that something that should shock us?"
Kim Longsworth,
"I would think so considering that the legal age for use is 18 I think we should be concerned."
The study was funded by the Organization of American States through the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. On Friday morning it will be presented to representatives of high schools, government, and the OAS.