Our Newshawk writes: [You have to follow the URL at the bottom of the
ensuing article and download the .pdf file (at
http://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/cdpe/chs/yrbs/97report/marij.pdf) in order to
find out that 23 percent of Oregon teenagers who responded to the 1997
Oregon Health Department survey said they had used cannabis within the past
30 days, compared to 25 percent in 1995. (The surveys are carried out every
other year.) This is important ammunition for Oregon reform activists
promoting any or all of the five marijuana-related initiative campaigns
trying to get on the ballot. Download and print out the .pdf file in case
you ever need to rebut assertions that teen use of marijuana is increasing.
- - Phil Smith]

MORE TEENS ABSTAINING FROM RISK, SURVEY SAYS

The latest report on youth behavior shows that fewer of Oregon's high
school students are trying drugs and sex

Geniece Battle as 10 minutes from finishing her last day as a Madison High
School senior Wednesday when she found out that a new state survey says her
views on sex might represent a growing trend.

"A lot more people are being able to stand up for what they really want --
abstinence seems to be more of what they believe in," said Battle, 18.

The 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report, which the Oregon Health
Division will release today, says more teens are saying no to sex.
Sixty-five percent of students reported that they have never had sex, an
increase from the 53 percent reported in 1991. And 69 percent of students
surveyed said they would advise a classmate to wait until they are married
or older to have sex, compared with 61 percent in 1993.

The study is Oregon's fourth Youth Risk Behavior Survey. It covers
behaviors that could lead to injury, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug
use, sexual behavior, dietary practices and physical activity.

The state's findings are not definitive. The Health Division wanted a
random sample of 50 of the state's 233 public high schools. But
participation in the survey is voluntary, and only 24 schools, or 48
percent of the chosen schools, responded.

The state used 32,378 of the completed surveys, rejecting 1,100 surveys in
which inconsistencies showed the teens had answered untruthfully. Most
participants were white, but the survey also included students from a
variety of races and socioeconomic groups.

Battle, who was not involved in the survey, said that since her freshman
year, she has been bombarded with messages about abstinence from the
school's health center, teachers and peer programs such as Students Today
Aren't Ready for Sex (Stars).

Students "are starting to listen to them," said Battle, a student council
member at the Northeast Portland school who said that abstaining makes her
feel safer.

The survey's finding is a boost for people involved in Gov. John
Kitzhaber's 1997 action agenda to reduce teen pregnancy. Such programs as
Stars, in which teens deliver the abstinence message to 30,000 Oregon
sixth- and seventh-graders each year, might be having an effect.

Yet, the survey also made it clear that parents, health leaders and
educators also must do their part.

"Even though the majority of kids are healthy and using healthy behavior,
there is a minority of kids who are not and in a few instances we are
seeing some negative trends," said Dr. Grant Higginson, state health
officer for Oregon.

Compared with previous Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, for example:

* Fewer students said they worried about pregnancy or getting infected with
a sexually transmitted disease. That percentage fell from 37 to 35 percent.

* About 58 percent of this year's respondents said they used condoms,
showing no difference in safe-sex behaviors.

* More of this year's students reported using alcohol or drugs before last
having sexual intercourse.

In other areas:

* 27 percent reported being physically abused at some time, and 15 percent
said they have been sexually abused.

* 11 percent said they carried a weapon other than a gun on school
property, and 2 percent reported carrying a gun on school property.

* 13 percent said they had been in a fight on school property, compared
with 18 percent in 1993.

* 33 percent were offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property
in the 12 months prior to the survey.

* And in a new survey category, 31 percent said they had been harassed at
school by another student. Of those, 24 percent said the harassment was
unwanted sexual attention or comments. Six percent said the comment
involved their race or origin.

For a copy of the report, contact Oregon Health Statistics at
503-731-4354or check the Internet at
http://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/cdpe/chs/statinfo.htm

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski