Illegal drug and alcohol use is down at Austin Public Schools in what some attribute to ramped-up efforts to provide alternative activities; however, prescription drug use is on the rise, mirroring state and national trends.

According to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey, prescription drug use is up among Austin High School students: 15 percent of males and 11 percent of females in grade 12 reported using OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin or other pain relievers to get high in the past year.

Although pain relievers appeared to be the prescription drug of choice for most students, stimulants, ADHD drugs like Ritalin, and tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax were close behind in reported usage among both freshmen and seniors.

“It is a nationwide concern,” said Thor Bergland, student support liaison at Austin High School and advisor for the Chemical Health Awareness Initiative, a communitywide group which organizes drug-free activities for students. “It’s starting to pick up noise. Statewide trends duplicate the same. I think it is something that will be addressed more and more.”

Bergland said because drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin are prescription-only, the risk perception is down.

“The appearance is not as bad,” he said.

Students can obtain the drugs from friends and family, explained Bergland, who said students have been seeking help or advice from the counseling department about prescription drug use for both themselves and their friends.

Lea Oelfke, counselor at Ellis Middle School, said prescription drugs use is higher at Austin Public Schools than neighboring districts, but “alcohol is still our No. 1 concern.”

In 2007, 30.3 percent of seniors who participated in the survey reported driving a motor vehicle after using drugs or alcohol, compared to 43.3 percent in 2001.

Bergland said since he started in the district in 2004-05, he has seen “a big change in the climate at school.”

Even “at-risk” students have been participating in CHAI events, like the intramural sports.

CHAI is planning more drug-free events next year, including Movies By Moonlight at Veterans Memorial Park, dances, several intramurals, a homecoming bonfire and post-prom party, staff advisors reported to the school board Monday. CHAI is now finishing up its intramural flag football season.

“I think we’ve had a diverse group show up to events,” Bergland said.

Melissa Schaller, advisor for CHAI, said since its inception in 2005-06, the district has seen a “dramatic decrease” in the using culture among students.

“We feel like our efforts have made quite a difference,” she said.

Bergland said that CHAI is not about educating students about the perils of drug and alcohol use; it uses students, parents, staff and other volunteers to provide events where kids won’t feel compelled to use.

“It takes away the peer pressure,” he said.

Bergland said parent and business involvement — both with time and financial contributions — “has been tremendous. Student participation has been complimentary.”