TEEN-AGE DRUG USE: NUMBERS UP IN CAPE COUNTY

It came as no surprise to Jim Davis, director of the Girardot Center for Youth and Family, that more Cape Girardeau County juveniles are doing drugs.

A national survey released Tuesday shows that drug use among teen-agers has increased significantly.

"The numbers may have gone up," Davis said, "but it's always been pretty consistent. Kids having problems experiment with drugs."

In his job, Davis deals with drug-addicted teen-agers on a daily basis. He said one probable cause is that teens may have lost a sense of direction.

Teen-agers face a tremendous number of choices, including whether to try drugs, he said. That is happening at the same time that there is less adult contact, Davis said.

In many households, both parents must work, and through no fault of their own have less time for their children, he said.

Without proper guidance, teen-agers often turn to drugs.

"Some of these kids are depressed and seeking that oblivion that drugs provide," Davis said. "We live in such a confusing time."

He said that youths who don't build strength in areas of responsibility, cooperation and self-control are more likely to become addicted to drugs.

It works the other way, too.

"Drugs smack in these three areas," he said. "If you get involved in drugs, these areas suffer."

Mary Shepard, who works at the Gibson Recovery Center in Cape Girardeau, said she has no doubt that drug use among teens has risen.

"What I hear from kids is that marijuana is still very prevalent," she said. "Alcohol is No. 1 -- the abuse of it -- but marijuana runs a real close second."

While the number of young drug users is higher, more are getting caught: The number of the county's juveniles cited into juvenile court exclusively for drug use is already significantly higher this year than the number cited during the entire year of 1995.

Detective Bill Bohnert, an investigator with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said drug use here always seems consistent, not necessarily higher or lower.

"But there is a definite problem," he said. "And it's not going away."

He said teens of different races tend to use different drugs. Caucasian teen-agers tend to use methamphetamine and marijuana, he said. But the "big thing" for white teens is prescription pills like Valium.

African-American teens more often use crack and marijuana, he said.

Because methamphetamine and crack basically do about the same thing and cost about the same, he has no explanation for the difference.

Davis said there are many good programs and services and plenty of help available if users decide they need it. Davis said the best thing parents can do is to take a stand on drug use, which may be difficult.

"Remember when we used to not talk about suicide because we were afraid that would push them into it?" he said. "I think it's the same thing with drugs."

He said teen-agers don't want their parents to be a part of their life but parents need to force their ways into their children's lives.

"It takes a tremendous amount of courage," he said. "The main thing is just being available for kids to listen and let them share their information. Guide them through their choices.

"Kids act like they don't want your input but I think they are looking for some advice. Just say, 'Have you considered the consequences?'"

The earlier you intervene the better, Davis said. Approach them in a realistic way, he said.

"If you come in angry and yelling at them, you're overreacting. But you can't just sit there and do nothing. I think the kids understand that."