Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 9, 1994                   TAG: 9404110163
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

MANY YOUTHS SAY DRUGS NOT HARMFUL

The study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, found that only 54 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds in 1992 believed that there is great risk associated with trying cocaine once or twice.

Only half - 49 percent - said they believed that smoking a pack or more of cigarettes a day is associated with great risk of harm. In both cases, youths see less harm associated with drug use than the rest of the population.

``These figures indicate a need for continuing and strengthening prevention work, especially among today's youth,'' said Dr. Philip Lee, the director of the Public Health Service. ``We cannot afford to let any young person in America today grow up and be less than fully aware of the serious consequences of drug use.''

Among all Americans aged 12 and older, the study found:

45 percent reported believing that occasional marijuana use was associated with great risk of harm, a decrease from 50 percent in 1988.

68 percent reported that trying cocaine once or twice was associated with great risk of harm, down from 71 percent in 1988.

75 percent of Americans reported that trying heroin once or twice was associated with great risk of harm, down from the 1988 figure of 77 percent.

64 percent of Americans reported believing that smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day was associated with great risk of harm, up from 62 percent in 1988.

The study was based on interviews with 28,832 people.