The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-02, Page 10PAGE 10-GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SkPTEMBEii 2. 1987
EGISTRATION
- by mall or at ached
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9 FROM 7 - 10 P.M.
* See last week's SIGNAL -STAR for details *
Farn1t: News
Cocaine use up
Gailup survey shows
Significant changes in the use of cocaine
and cannabis ( marijuana/hashish) have
occurred, according to a province -wide
-samey of drugase.loy..Ontar o adults.
I1 new Addiction -Research Foundation
study ( "Alcohol and Drug Use Among On-
tario Adults, 1977-1978") showed the
following: cocaine use increased in 1987,
with approximately 6.1 percent of Ontario
adults reporting use of cocaine at least
once in their lifetime compared to 3.3 per-
cent in 1984; cannabis use among 18 to 29
year olds declined significantly from 28.5
percent in 1984 to 20.0 percent in 1987.
"The new survey completes a decade of
information about Ontario adult drug
use," said Dr. Reginald Smart, Director of
the Foundation's Prevention Studies
Department. "This makes it the longest
running survey of its kind in Canada." The
1987 study surveyed 1,084 adults (18 and
over) in urban and rural regions
throughout Ontario. All surveys were con-
ducted by the Gallup Organization. The
sampling procedure was designed to pro-
duce an approximation of the adult civilian
population, 18 years and older,. living in
Ontario except for those in institutions
(such as prisons- or hospitals) , or those
residing in far Northern regions.
A new cocaine question in the 1987
survey asked about the use of cocaine in
the form of "crack." Only 0.7 percent of all
survey respondents reported using
"crack.",
Ontario cocaine use continues to remain
significantly lower than use in the United
States.
Further analysis of the 1987 -data iden-
tified the typical cocaine user
characteristics as follows: young (18 to 29
years old) ; male, (1.5 times more likely
than females to use cocaine); more likely
to be a Metro Toronto resident; income
levels ranged from below $10,000 per year
to above $50,000 per year; most used co-
caine once a month or less often (95 per-
cent of all cocaine users).
It is important to note that these figures
cover those who may have used cocaine as
seldom as once in their lifetime or as much
as two or three times a month. But the
category, "at least once in their lifetime"
is used because it indicates that a person
had sufficient interest and access to the
drug to try it. Of the 6.1 percent of those
who reported• cocaine use, over two-thirds
(68.6 percent) had not used cocaine at all
in the previous 12 months.
"Although the proportion of those who
had used cocaine 'at least once in their
lifetime increased, the number reporting
use in the past 12 months did not in-
crease," said Edward Adlaf, Senior
Research Assistant and co-author of the
survey. ``this finding suggests that the
Jack Riddell
Huron's Strong Voice on the Peterson Team
�WNf y, •14 Year Veteran in the
Ontario Legislature
�FzyY •Minister of Agriculture and
Food
•Long record of outstanding
` n y service to the residents
x of Huron County
jf •A man who will serve
ALL the people of Huron
•A man who will protect our
vital agriculture sector
against Free Trade
® FOR INFORMATION CALL
Clinton 482-3007 • Wingham 357-1140 • Exeter 235-1544
Goderich 524-5336 • Seaforth 527-2202
SPONSORED BY THE HURON LIBERAL ASSOCIATION
ON SEPTEMBER 10 irk‘
'emu:
JACK RIDDELL
Come
ee
T
i v!' EXHAUST
RE -CORED. RADIATORS
Reg. $140. and up
1 P SHOCKS, Cars Reg. $49.95
Trucks Reg. $59.95
fr'.' BRAKES, Rear Reg. $69.95
Front Reg. $64.95
most cars
LUBE & FILTER Reg. 819.95
yr FRONT END
ifrr GET YOUR RAD FLUSHED
Reg. $39.95
v RE -MANUFACTURED
GAS TANKS Reg. 8139.95 INSTALLED
COIL SPRINGS, Reg. $109.95 & up
$'r' MUFFLERS, Reg. $42.40 & up
i `BEET' RUNNING BOARDS
Reg. 8200. INSTALLED
SPRINGS, Coil & deaf
Reg. 8129.95 & up
1\
191 Walnut Street, Goderich. 524=4200
Behind the New Suncoast Ford
OPEN Monday - Friday 8 am - 5:30 pm, Saturday 8 am - 2 pm
number of people who have ever used co-
caine increased primarily between the
years 1984 and 1986, but not in 1987."
The decline in cannabis use among 18 to
4200 year old is mostly attr ibutable to males,
whose use declined from 36.9 percent in
1984 to 24.6 percent in 1987. As in previous
survey years, males are more likely than
females to have used cannabis. Use con-
tinues to be highest among respondents
from M tro Toronto. The majority of usei,
(61.7 pe cent) reported infrequent use
( less tha once a month) .
Survey ata, suggests that the cannabis
user popaation may be aging. Although
cannabis use is declining among 18 to. 29
year olds, it has increased slightly among
30 to 49 year olds from 6.3 percent to 9.2
percent. Future surveys will clarify
whether or not this trend will continue.
Fewer respondents reported total
abstention from alcohol during the past 12
months when compared to 1977 and 1982
statistics. No significant change occurred
between 1984 and 1987. Although there
were more drinkers (in 1987), daily drink-
ing has remained stable. However, among
drinkers, this survey also shows a signifi-
cant increase in the frequency of "five or
more drinks at one sitting" episodes (54.5
percent in 1987; 49.2 percent in 1984).
"It's too soon to be certain that the in-
crease in the number of drinkers consum-
ing five or more drinks at one sitting is a
trend in Ontario," said Edward Adlaf.
"Results of the next survey are needed to
determine this."
The study also asked Ontario adults
about their use of sleeping pills, stimulants
( including pep or diet pills) and tran-
quillizers. Findings regarding these drugs
remained substantially similar to those of
previous survey years.
As in all sample surveys', the accuracy of
statistics reported is not absolute. For ex-
ample, the 6.1 percent of cocaine users has
a sampling error of 1.9 percent. This
means there is a 95 percent certainty that
the actual percentage of Ontario adults
who are willing to report cocaine use (at
least once) lies lletween 4.2 percent and 8.0
percent.
When considering the number of users of
the different drugs covered by this survey,
Dr. Smart cautions against
underestimating cocaine use in particular.
Although deaths are rare, the unpredic-
table relationship between doses and
fatalities concerns health professionals.'
Even among recreational users, a signigi-
cant percentage appear .to experience
negative or adverse reactions. For these
reasons, any use of cocaine should be of
concern to educational, judicial and health
planners and all who deal with drug use.
Community holds bridal
shower in church basement
On Tuesday evening, the basement of
the Pine . River United Church was
decorated for the shower for .Sharlene
Jones, a bride-to-be in the very near
future.
Sharlene received many lovely and
useful gifts from her friends in the com-
munity. She thanked the ladies. very fit --
tingly and an enjoyable evening closed
with a lovely lunch.
On Sunday last, Cecil, Jim and Kae
Webster visted with Myrtle Fells and.
Wynn Gammie at the Fell's cottage at Port
Albert.
Rod and Jeannie Finlayson and their two
daughters from Sarnia visited with
Dorothy Finlayson for a few days.
Ewen and Mary McLean visited recently
with Ewen's brother and sister -In-law,
Allan and Millie McLean of Collingwood.
Karen, Lindsay and Shelley Irvin,
daughters of William and Shirley Irvin are
spending a couple of days with their grand-
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Robb.
Charles and Mayme Wilkins and Herb
LOCHALSH
NEWS
Kae Webster, 395-5257
and Marie Wilkins of Ashfield Township
visited with Howard and Gladys Carlow of
Port Elgin.
On Wednesday evening, Rhetta and.
Marion MacLennan visited with Dorothy
MacLennan and on Thursday afternoon,
Margaret Morton of Point Clark took her
mother and sister Rhetta and Marion to
Lucknow for shopping.
'Thursday evening, Kae Webster had her
two sisters-in-law, Myrtle Fells and Wynn
Gammie call in for a visit.
Dorothy MacLennan has her sister,
Katie Sutherland of London staying with
her for a few days.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
Tenex Communications Inc. is pleased to announce the
opening of a branch office in. association with:
Wheeler Electronics Ltd.
70 The Square, Goderich
524-7171
Tenex Communications Inc. is this area's only authorized
dealer and specializes in 2 -way radio communication for farm,
business and industry.
For all your communications requirements call "The Communicators'
'TENEX COMMUNICATIONS INC.
LONDON.
473-9877
AILSA CRAIG
232-4477
GODERICH
524-7171
ROTARY
Paper Drive
Saturday Morning
September 12, 1987
WATCH FOR PAPER DRIVE COMING NOVEMBER 7, 1987