Hard drugs more prevalent among Hay River youth: survey

The use of hard drugs like cocaine appears to be on the rise among youth in Hay River, N.W.T., according to the latest results of a survey conducted at the local high school.

About 200 students in grades eight to 12 at Diamond Jenness Secondary School recently completed questionnaires about their awareness and use of alcohol and drugs, as part of efforts by the Hay River Drug Strategy to address drug use in the community.

While the latest results show alcohol and marijuana were most commonly used by youth, drug strategy spokesperson Jill Taylor said she is concerned with what appears to be a growing prevalence of cocaine and ecstasy use.

More than 16 per cent of senior high students surveyed said they had seen cocaine in the last 30 days, compared to less than one per cent when the survey was last done in 2008.

As well, the number of students who said their friends are using cocaine jumped from seven to 20 per cent over the last two years.

"One area that we need to begin to focus some energy in is the education and information dissemination around cocaine and ecstasy use," Taylor told CBC News.

"We need to make sure the youth have the proper information on the harmful effects of what these drugs can do to them."

Taylor said the average age that students have said they've first used cocaine or ecstasy is around 15 or 16 years old, while marijuana use tends to begin at a younger age.

"I think many are still surprised when they hear that many of our youth are beginning to experiment with marijuana, which is typically the first drug, at ages 12 or 13," Taylor said.

"So we know as a community that's where we need to begin before those ages to target some of our efforts."

The Hay River Drug Strategy comprises 20 community agencies, including the RCMP, health and education authorities and the Town of Hay River.

The group began holding events and activities this past weekend to give youth drug-free places to go to at night.

Eighteen-year-old town Coun. Reiss Kruger, who attends Diamond Jenness Secondary School, said he feels a lot of students gave honest answers to the survey.

"I think the fact that it's not a test, so there's no pressure in that sense, and it is confidential [means] a lot of people do kind of open up and let go with whatever their past is," Kruger said.

"There were a few naysayers, as always, and then also people that just didn't really care. For the most part, people just buckled down and started writing."

Taylor said the latest survey results do give her some hope: the number of respondents who said they are willing to help battle the town's drug problem has gone up by about 20 per cent.