By Helen Klein
It was a small survey, but the results were startling. Of 36 Canarsie teens, half of them in 10th grade and half of them in 12th, a whopping 47 percent admitted to having used alcohol in the 30 days before the survey was taken. In addition, approximately 19.4 percent admitted to having used cigarettes during that time period, and about 13 percent admitted to smoking marijuana. The survey, which was anonymous, was administered to teenagers attending a youth program at the Hebrew Educational Society (HES), 9502 Seaview Avenue, according to Marc Arje, the executive director of HES. “The results shocked me,” Arje admitted to members of the Friends United Block Association (FUBA), gathered at Temple Shaare Emeth, 6012 Farragut Road, for the group’s February meeting. While, Arje said, the results of the survey, “Are not far off from the national average,” they are, “Of great concern for me and I’m sure for people in the community.” According to Arje, 16.7 percent of the 10th graders admitted to smoking cigarettes in the 30 days prior to the survey. That number rose for the 12th graders to 22.2 percent. All of the students surveyed said that they had smoked between one and nine cigarettes during that time period; none admitted to more frequent usage. As far as alcohol consumption was concerned, 44.4 percent of the 10th graders said that they had had a drink during the 30 days that preceded the survey; for 12th graders, that number rose to 50 percent. For marijuana use, there also was a rise from 10th to 12th grader. While 11.1 percent of 10th graders admitted to smoking pot in the month prior to the administration of the survey, 16.7 percent of the 12th graders did. Students also generally felt that alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana were relatively readily available, according to the survey, said Arje. He said that 88.9 percent of the 10th graders said they believed they could easily get cigarettes; 83.3 percent of 12th graders said the same. Fewer students – though still a majority — believed that alcohol was easy to get: 66.7 percent of 10th graders and 72.2 percent of 12th graders were of that opinion, according to the survey. Perhaps surprisingly, more students thought that marijuana was easy to get: 83.3 percent of 10th graders, and 72.2 percent of 12th graders. There are numerous warning signs that a teenager is flirting with alcohol, marijuana or cigarette use. Among these, said Arje, is, “If the youngster has excuses often when not where he or she is supposed to be or why he or she is late,” as well as, “Excuses why he or she has no money.” Other signs include changing friends, having best friends who use drugs or alcohol, becoming less concerned about appearance, and a lesser degree of involvement at home.” Parents facing such a scenario, said Arje, should set boundaries. “Take the position it is completely unacceptable,” Arje advised, warning that if parents eschew setting boundaries, teens will keep testing their limits, “Till they hit a boundary.” It’s better, he said, to, “Struggle with kids telling them this is the line, understanding they are not always going to stay behind the line.” Local law enforcement officials can help by identifying stores selling alcohol to underage users, said Captain Ralph Monteforte, the commanding officer of the 69th Precinct. The precinct, he noted, does, “Conduct sting operations,” urging his listeners to let the precinct know if they are aware of stores that are selling alcohol to minors.
