OFFICIALS WORRY ABOUT TEENS' CHANGING ATTITUDES

A 2009 survey of 11,000 Vermont students in eighth through 12th
grades found a change in attitude about the risks of smoking and
marijuana that worries state health officials.

In the Department of Health's Youth Risk Behavior Survey two years
ago, 72 percent of Vermont school-age teenagers said they believed
there was "great risk in people harming themselves" from smoking one
or more packs of cigarettes a day. In this year's survey, the
percentage dropped to 67 percent.

Likewise, 51 percent of the students saw great risk of harm from
smoking marijuana regularly, compared with 42 percent in the most
recent survey.

"When we see the attitude more accepting and less perceived risk of
harm, we are worried increased use will follow," said Barbara
Cimaglio, deputy health commissioner for alcohol and drug-abuse
programs. "The harmful consequences of smoking tobacco and marijuana
is a public-health message that must be delivered by parents and
communities and understood by young people."

The state has been conducting surveys of risky behavior among the
state's youth every other year since 1993. The survey asks students
about use of bicycle helmets and seatbelts, fighting and abuse,
sexual activity and use of contraceptive measures, nutrition and
physical activity and whether they talk to their parents.

The changing view about the harmfulness of smoking reverses a 10-year
trend in which more and more students saw risks in tobacco use.

The percentage of youth who smoke has remained at 16 percent since
2003 but had declined precipitously from 38 percent in 1995.
Officials don't want to see that trend reversed, Cimaglio said.

The survey found 22 percent of all students had used marijuana at
least once in the past 30 days, down from 32 percent in 1997 --
another trend officials would like to see continue rather than reverse.

Cimaglio noted two other disturbing indicators in the survey,
although the data had changed little from 2007. Nearly one quarter of
the students reporting riding in a vehicle with a drinking driver,
and a nearly equal percentage said they had been in a vehicle when
someone who had used marijuana was behind the wheel.

The imbibing or marijuana-smoking drivers could be parents or
friends, Cimaglio noted. Regardless of who it is, the worrisome
behavior "is something we want to focus on," she said.

The Health Department plans a campaign in the spring to spotlight
"how parents can support their children in making good choices,"
Cimaglio said. The campaign will include radio and Internet messages
along with initiatives developed by community organizations. The
effort will be paid for under a $12 million, five-year federal
Strategic Prevention Framework grant.

The campaign will build on some strengths identified in the survey,
Cimaglio said, citing the fact that 77 percent of the students
reported they talked with their parents, and 72 percent reported
eating meals with their families at least three times a week. "Those
are really protective factors," she said.

2009 YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY

The Department of Health just released its latest survey of more than
11,000 Vermont students in eighth through 12th grade that analyzes
risky behaviors. Surveys have been conducted every other year since
1993. To read the report, go
to http://www.healthvermont.gov/pubs/yrbs2009/documents/YRBS_2009.pdf

Here are some highlights:

- - ELECTRONIC BULLYING: 15 percent report experiencing electronic
bullying in the past year. This is the first time this question has
been asked.

- - BULLYING: 20 percent report bullying someone in the past 30 days,
while 17 percent report being bullied.

- - PHYSICAL FIGHTS: 27 percent report being in a physical fight in the
past year, with the greatest incidence reported among eighth graders.

- - BIKE HELMETS: 63 percent rarely or never wear bike helmets, up from
55 percent two years ago. Boys are less likely than girls to wear
helmets.

- - SUICIDE: 9 percent report making a plan about how to commit
suicide, and 4 percent report trying. That's down from a peak in
1995, when 22 percent reported planning how to commit suicide and 10
percent said they tried.

- - BINGE DRINKING: 20 percent report binge drinking in the past month.
Bingeing is having five or more drinks over a couple of hours. The
percentage is down from 31 percent in 1997.

- - HIV TEST: 10 percent reported they had been tested for HIV, the
virus that causes AIDS.

- - EXERCISE: 24 percent exercised 60 minutes every day, while 12
percent said reported no days in the past week when they exercised
for 60 minutes.

- - TV & COMPUTER GAMES: 38 percent spent more than three hours a day
watching TV, playing video games or using the computer for fun.