BAINBRIDGE IS HOME TO STUDENTS OF SUBSTANCE

Fifty-Three Percent Of The Island's High School Seniors Say They
Consumed Alcohol Last Fall -- And 27 Percent Say They've Been Drunk
Or High While In School

Bainbridge Island -- Alcohol use among Bainbridge High School seniors
is 25 percent higher than the state average, a new study suggests.

Fifty-three percent of seniors drank sometime during the month
before they were surveyed last fall, compared with 42 percent across
the state, according to just-released results from the Healthy Youth
Survey. Higher drinking rates among seniors were reported
in surveys in 2002 and 2004 as well.

"We have really great kids that make really stupid decisions,"
Bainbridge High teacher Josh Zarling told concerned school board
members Thursday night. Zarling helped with the study, along with
Clayton Mork, an assistant superintendent for the Bainbridge Island
School District, and district nurse Heidi McKay.

Twenty-seven percent of seniors reported being high or drunk at
school, up from 19 percent in 2002, according to the survey. Most
respondents reported that booze is easy to get. The majority said
they thought it was cool to drink and that they plan to do more of
it when they're adults.

What's more, island seniors are more likely than others in the state
to accept a drink at a party.

"Our seniors don't seem to have good refusal skills, either," McKay
said, adding that they don't feel there are serious consequences for
using at home or at school. She said she was surprised the numbers
weren't higher.

"Ideally, you'd like to change the attitude, and that's the real
change," Mork said.

The survey suggests the attitude may not be much different among
seniors for marijuana use.

Thirty-one percent have used it in the past month, compared with 22
percent statewide. Half of BHS seniors say they've smoked it at one
time or another.

And, one in 10 BHS seniors have used cocaine, about the same for use
statewide. But less than 1 percent report having used
methamphetamine, lower than elsewhere.

School board members seemed most concerned about a jump in the use
of alcohol and other drugs among students between grades 10 and 12.
That includes cigarettes.

"Whatever the causes are, they make that huge leap between 10th and
12th grade," Zarling said.

Board member Dave Pollack suggested students "experimenting" might
account for some of the results.

Results weren't all bleak from the survey of 266 BHS seniors and a
representative sample of students across the state.

BHS seniors feel safer and less bullied at school than elsewhere.
Nearly half try to do their best at school, compared with a third
statewide. More BHS seniors say they have lots of opportunities to
get involved in sports, clubs and other activities at school. Nearly
twice the number of students at BHS say there are many opportunities
to talk with teachers one-on-one.

And, 94 percent report that none of their friends have dropped out
of school, compared with 75 percent across the state.

Nearly 50 percent expect to earn an advanced college degree, twice
the state average.

School officials are just beginning to digest the numbers and ponder
possible solutions.

Board member Mike Foley, however, called for short-term solutions in
place by the fall.

The Bainbridge Island School District voluntarily participates every
two years in the study, which is sponsored by the state Office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction and other agencies.

Other Results

Besides Bainbridge seniors, the Healthy Youth Survey was also given
to sixth-, eighth- and 10th-graders. Here are brief profiles of each:

Sixth-Graders

Sakai Intermediate School

94 percent said they feel safe at school, compared with 89 percent
statewide. Fewer reported being bullied than elsewhere in the state
(20 percent vs. 32 percent).

Recent alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use is similar to statewide
use (1 percent reported using alcohol, zero percent reported using
marijuana and cigarettes).

As for depression, island students' responses were similar to
statewide results. Eleven percent said they had seriously thought
about killing themselves and 2 percent reported trying to.

Eighth-Graders

Woodward Middle School

91 percent say they feel safe at school, compared with 82 percent
statewide, and 17 percent reported being bullied in the last 30
days, compared with 27 percent statewide.

Recent alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use is similar to statewide
averages (11 percent reported using alcohol, 6 percent reported
using marijuana, and 5 percent reported using cigarettes).

Sixteen percent responded yes when asked if depression had recently
interrupted their activities, compared with 25 percent statewide.
Other rates were similar to statewide results.

10th-Graders

Bainbridge High School

92 percent feel safe at school, compared with 77 percent statewide,
and 17 percent reported being bullied, close to the state average.

Recent alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use was almost identical to
the state average (32 percent of Bainbridge 10th-graders reported
using alcohol, 19 percent reported using marijuana and 11 percent
reported using cigarettes.

Almost twice as many local 10th-graders said they received
information at school about suicide prevention (85 percent) than the
statewide average.