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A study was recently released in the United States showing that teen drug and alcohol use was on the rise for the first time in over a decade, but the results aren’t necessarily indicative of what’s going on north of the border.

The US study showed that 39 per cent of American teens reported drinking alcohol in the past month, up four per cent from 2008, and 38 per cent used marijuana, a six per cent increase.

The most recent report of marijuana use among Canadian teens was released by Statistics Canada in 2004, and it showed that 29 per cent of teens aged 15-17 reported using marijuana in 2002, lower than the percentage in the US. But unlike the US, the Canadian numbers have been steadily increasing over the last decade and may have increased more in the last eight years since the Statistics Canada study was released.

The report speculated that the increase could be reflective of changing attitudes.

The Innisfail High School conducted its own survey on student experiences and attitudes on a number of themes, one of which explored drug and alcohol use. In the survey, conducted the beginning of this year, 50 per cent of students reported that they drink alcohol, and 26 per cent reported having used non-prescription drugs, which is lower than the national average in 2002.

Vice principal George Thomson said that although regular marijuana use is limited to a few students, it is a problem that they take very seriously.

"It definitely affects the attendance and academic performance of the individuals," he said.

Thomson said he didn’t believe that marijuana use is necessarily increasing, rather that it fluctuates as certain groups work their way through school. Thomson also said that in many cases the parents are aware of the student’s use of marijuana or alcohol, and in some instances are even accepting of such behaviour, which poses a problem.

Cst. Rick Buisseret, the school’s resource officer and member of the Innisfail RCMP, said that in many cases when they are called to the scene of a party, it is discovered that the parents bought the alcohol for their children.

"Some parents tend to think that it’s not such a big deal," said Buisseret. "They don’t understand that just because the consumption takes place in the home, it doesn’t mean it’s not illegal."

Buisseret agrees that just a small percentage of students regularly use marijuana, but asserts that it is a problem that is taken very seriously, especially since students using marijuana tend to be the ones involved in vandalism and theft.

"Our detachment takes a very stern view on marijuana use," said Buisseret.

He explained that in some areas officers would make a low-key seizure, simply confiscating the marijuana and issuing a warning, but in Innisfail, even when a culprit is caught with a small amount, they’ll be charged.

Thomson also said that every instance is dealt with in a serious manner, and occasionally the school has called in AADAC counselors on a case-by-case basis. Thomson said that it is important to set an example when dealing with marijuana use, not just to help the individual make better decisions in the future, but also to discourage other students from trying it or thinking that it isn’t a big deal.

Buisseret said that often students get the impression that marijuana use is more widespread than it actually is.

"Monday morning, all the gossip and rumours are about the small number that made bad decisions over the weekend," said Buisseret, explaining that because students hear so much about it, they think marijuana use is more common than it really is.

The school offers a number of programs to encourage healthy choices, such as the Get Real program, the Party Program, and D.A.R.E.