STUDENT SMOKING DECLINES

Study Finds 30 Percent Have Tried Marijuana

In an average classroom of 30 high school students, nine have smoked
marijuana, 15 have engaged in sexual activity, six brought a weapon to
school and three attempted suicide, according to a study released by the
state Department of Education.

However, the number of high school students who smoked cigarettes dropped 3
percent during the past two years, and the number of teens who rode in a
car with a driver who had been drinking dropped from 31 percent to 28 percent.

"The data is obviously not what we want it to be," said state board member
Jim MacCallum. "But in two years, we're seeing 2 to 3 percentage point
changes that literally translate into saving lives."

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was given to 3,000 sixth-through
12th-graders in 60 randomly selected schools across the state last spring.
Questions were provided by the Center for Disease Control and are
administered to students nationwide every other year.

West Virginia has participated in the study for 10 years, but this is the
first year middle school students were surveyed.

Questions deal with behaviors that result in injuries, tobacco use, alcohol
and drug use, sex, diet and physical activity.

Middle school students were not asked questions pertaining to sexual activity.

Information obtained from the survey is used to develop curriculum for
health classes and helps educators narrow what areas need focus. Since the
state started using the data, nearly 2,000 teachers received special life
skills training, tobacco prevention specialists were hired and financial
support has been given to the counties for efforts to reduce poor health
behaviors.

According to the high school questionnaire results:

a.. 80 percent wear a seatbelt most of the time.

a.. 65.7 percent participated in various physical activities three or more
days a week.

a.. 18.1 percent ate five or more fruits and vegetables a day.

a.. 15 percent of males and 2 percent of females carried a weapon such as a
gun, knife or club to school in the past 30 days.

a.. 10 percent of males and 4 percent of females smoked marijuana on school
property. Questions from the middle school survey revealed that:

a.. 45 percent drank alcohol.

a.. 41.2 percent have carried a weapon. The question, however, did not
specify whether it was carried on school grounds.

a.. 15.7 have smoked marijuana and 16.1 percent have smoked cigarettes.
School officials say they are most pleased about the decrease in smoking.
In 1999, 33 percent of high school students considered themselves daily
smokers. This year, that number has dropped to 26 percent.

Two years ago, 38 percent said they were trying to quit. This year, 59
percent are ready to kick the habit.

"They're really getting wise about the hazards of smoking," said Lenore
Zedosky, director of the state's office of healthy schools.

Board members pledged to work with local law enforcement agencies to gain
additional police presence around the schools. The board is also developing
an anti-bullying policy.

"We need to get the word out that this is not acceptable," said Sandra
Chapman, president of the board.