For the first time, Pulaski County's school system is mailing a pamphlet on alcohol, tobacco and drug use to all parents of enrolled children, including those with kids in elementary school.

Previously the school division had distributed less comprehensive anti-substance abuse information in some newsletters. The change represents an expansion of the effort to get the message out about harmful behavior.

The 34-page brochure was to have been posted Tuesday. It contains pictures of drugs and drug paraphernalia, a glossary of slang terms for drugs, such as "vitamin C," "snow," "toot," "white lady" and "flake," all nicknames for cocaine.

The brochure was written by parents from the Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Md., and is distributed by numerous other schools as part of an initiative called Community of Concern.

Mailing the pamphlet in Pulaski County will cost $8,000 and is being paid for by the school system and Pulaski Community Partners Coalition, an group that works to reduce substance abuse by the young.

"We saw the booklet at a conference and decided it would be a good tool to use," said Julie Williams, a coordinator for the coalition.

She said an annual survey her group gives to Pulaski High School students has shown fewer of them reporting substance abuse, but a significant problem still exists.

"I think parents realize it," Williams said. "I think maybe they don't have all the tools to address it, but I do think parents in our community realize we have a serious problem.

Libby Vansant, assistant superintendent of administration for the school system, said: "The issue of substance abuse is a national concern, certainly not limited to Pulaski County, but we thought that we needed to be proactive and get correct information out to counter things children are hearing that are maybe not accurate."

According to PCPC's most recent survey, given last May to 412 randomly selected Pulaski County students in grades nine though 12, within the preceding 30 days:

22 percent of respondents said they had ridden at least twice in a vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol.

11 percent of respondents said they had driven after drinking alcohol.

30 percent of respondents said they had consumed five or more alcoholic drinks within several hours at least once.

In addition, when asked what substances they had tried at least once in their life:

58 percent reported trying smoking.

38 percent reported trying marijuana.

28 percent reported trying prescription drugs not intended for them.

12 percent reported trying cocaine.

11 percent reported trying inhalants.

11 percent reported trying methamphetamine.

10 percent reported trying ecstasy.

Six percent reported trying steroids.

Four percent reported trying heroin.