SURVEY LENDS INSIGHT INTO TEENS' LIVES

Results Show Sex, Looks, Drugs Are Major Factors

Half of the students at Wayland High School drink alcohol regularly, a
quarter smoke marijuana, and three-quarters said they would describe
their lives as stressful, according to results of a volunteer,
schoolwide survey released last week.

A broad mix of about 200 parents, students, and faculty crowded into
the Wayland Middle School auditorium Thursday for a forum called
"Stress, Risks, and Resilience." Data from the state-sponsored Youth
Risk Behavior Survey given last spring were presented.

"There are some positive signs in some of the trends, but there's
still some very disturbing indicators," said Paul Neustadt, director
of Wayland Youth and Family Services.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, based on a nationwide survey conducted
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, was
given to Wayland students in grades 6 through 12 in May. The
confidential survey asked questions about sexual activity, suicidal
thoughts, body image, and drug and alcohol use; 1,329 Wayland students
responded to the survey.

Sixteen percent of the 640 high school students who responded reported
having seriously considered suicide, 9 percent made a plan to commit
suicide, and 4 percent attempted it. While those numbers were lower
than statewide results, "the number of kids who made suicide attempts
is particularly concerning," Neustadt said. (Statewide, 20 percent of
high school students surveyed reported having considered suicide, 15
percent made a plan, and 10 percent attempted suicide.)

One of the major concerns at Thursday's forum was the level of stress
that students are reporting. Half of all middle school students and
three-fourths of high school students say they would describe their
lives as stressful. The number was highest among 11th graders, at 84
percent.

"Students often play two or more sports, do outside activities,
volunteer locally, have an active social life, and have to complete
three-plus hours of homework," wrote an eighth-grade girl in her
response. "There often isn't enough time, and they feel nervous and
stressed about not doing something, or stay up until 10 or 11 at
night. Either way isn't healthy."

A group of students at the high school has been lobbying for school to
start at 8:15, 45 minutes later than it does right now. Students
presented their plan, which has been endorsed by the high school
principal, at the forum.

Another alarming number for parents and educators was that 10 percent
of seventh-graders and half of all seniors surveyed reported having
had sex. One eighth-grader wrote that not enough time is spent on sex
education.

"We mostly [focus] on abstinence during health, and spend maybe a day
on condoms, etc.," she wrote. "Let's face it, most of us are not
going to be abstinent, so wouldn't you rather have us be educated?"

The figures regarding girls' body image also stirred a reaction: 61
percent of high school girls reported having attempted to lose weight,
but only 29 percent considered themselves overweight.

"Apparently, if you're a female at the high school, there's no such
thing as being too thin," said Wayne Hardy, who helped administer the
survey. "It's an issue that needs to be looked at."

Girls do more to lose weight than boys, the results show, whether
through dieting, exercising, vomiting, or taking diet pills.

In many communities in the suburbs west of Boston, social pressures
and expectations from parents are high, which many say has led to
increases in drug and alcohol abuse.

"Clearly there's a social pressure, especially for the ninth-grade
students," said Jim Griffin, a guidance counselor at the high school
who compiled information based on interviews with students. "The
stakes are higher at the high school, both socially and
academically."

Two weeks ago, parents in Weston got together to discuss results from
the 2000 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, where many numbers had increased
since the 1997 survey.

Only two of the 54 communities in Middlesex County - Concord and
Weston - have requested specific advice about keeping teens out of
legal trouble, Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley said at the
Weston forum.

Wayland parents said that for the most part, the results from the
survey were what they expected.

"Overall, I'm not surprised," said Edie Keeler, a parent of two.
"They did a good job at presenting the material, but nothing really
shocked me."

"These risky behaviors are everywhere," said Bob Bellman, who has
children in the middle and high schools. "To be honest, the numbers
remind me of my youth. Kids are going to try things, not because of
stress, but because they want to experiment."

Educators and community support groups are stepping up their efforts
to help lower some of the numbers.

A monthly discussion group has formed for parents of high school
students, and a weekly support group is being designed to help high
school girls heighten their self-esteem and improve their body image.