LOCAL TEENS ADMIT DRUG USE

Kids Are Aware Of Dangers, But Many Still Indulge

A teen health survey released Wednesday revealed mixed news about local
kids. While most said they understood the dangers of drug and alcohol use,
for example, 41 percent of local 11th graders reported driving while drunk.

Area educators praised the good news in the results, but raised concerns
about the more worrisome figures.

"The millions of dollars we spend to educate students about the dangers of
these behaviors has been successful," said John Barnhart, assistant
superintendent from the county Office of Education. He spoke at a press
conference Wednesday, presenting results from the California Healthy Kids
Survey.

"The majority of them do not use alcohol, tobacco and drugs. But many still
do," Barnhart said.

A third of 11th graders and 21 percent of ninth graders had engaged in
binge drinking, saying they consumed five or more drinks on a single
occasion. Almost three-quarters — 73 percent — of 11th graders said they'd
had alcohol at least once in their lives, and 49 percent said they drank in
the last 30 days.

Other findings showed:

- - About 45 percent had smoked cigarettes or marijuana at least once, and
nearly a quarter had done so within a month.

- - Students feel safe at school and home but carry weapons to school with
increasing frequency as they progress through the grades.

- - Kids reported experimenting and using drugs, cigarettes and alcohol more
as they became older, despite the fact that, at all grade levels, students
reported in high numbers that they feel frequent use of such substances can
be "extremely harmful."

- - Eighty-three percent of seventh graders said cigarettes can be harmful,
compared to 75 percent of ninth graders and 79 percent of 11th graders.
Marijuana is considered harmful by 92 percent by seventh graders, 77
percent by ninth graders and 68 percent by 11th graders. The numbers for
alcohol are lower, though, at 77 percent for seventh graders and 66 percent
for those surveyed in higher grades.

- - The study also showed the number of students participating in healthy
activities declines as students get older. Only 69 percent of 11th graders
reported participating in 20 minutes of vigorous activity at least three
times weekly, compared with 85 percent of seventh graders.

Likewise, 26 percent of 11th graders reported eating five servings of
fruits and vegetables each week, compared to 34 percent of seventh graders.

- - Nearly 95 percent of students feel safe in their own neighborhoods, and
about 90 percent feel safe at school. However, 17 percent of ninth graders
and 18 percent of 11th graders said they had carried a weapon to school in
the last month. Officials cautioned that some students may have identified
as weapons pocket knives and other tools not used expressly for violence.

As well, about 80 percent of the students surveyed said they have caring
relationships with their families, teachers and peers and had high
expectations for themselves.

That number dropped below 60 percent, though, when students were asked if
they felt they had meaningful participation in the home, school and community.

Julian Crocker, county superintendent of schools, said the next step for
local schools and other county agencies in finding solutions to student
health risks is working together.

"I think the underlying message here is that it has to be a community
effort," Crocker said. "It is still disturbing that there are these kinds
of numbers in substance abuse. But it's a community issue."

Who did the survey:

Officials conducted the California Healthy Kids Survey in the fall of 1999.

The survey was administered by educators to more than 6,500 students in
grades seven, nine and 11 around the county. It focused on the health of
students and how often they do things that could be risky, such as drinking
and driving. In addition to substance abuse, the survey also asked students
about their perceptions of safety at school and home and about the aspects
of their lives they consider to be positive.

The results were analyzed by local law enforcement officials and various
county agencies in the hopes of finding and solving problems among area teens.

Where to go:

A town hall meeting on underage drinking will be from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14 at
the Morro Bay Community Center, 1002 Kennedy Way. Call 781-4290 for
information.