Survey of Washington students

Snohomish River and Historic First Street

A new survey of Washington students shows most are making good choices about their health. Still, far too many regularly use alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and engage in risky behavior.

The Healthy Youth Survey focuses on health risk behaviors. The anonymous voluntary survey is taken every two years by more than 210,000 public school kids around the state in grades six, eight, 10, and 12. It covers many topics young people face  drug, alcohol, and tobacco use; weapons in schools; gangs; gambling; physical activity; suicide; bullying; and more.

"This survey is a snapshot of whats going on with youth in our state," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "Were working hard to help kids make the right choices for their health. When they develop healthy habits early in life it provides an excellent foundation as they become adults."

Overall, drug use, alcohol use, tobacco use, and obesity rates havent changed much since the last survey in 2006. Still, theres cause for concern. Almost one in five 10th-graders reported having five or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks. About one in 10 students in 10th and 12th grades say they used a prescription painkiller to get high.

"Because their brains are still developing, kids who use alcohol and other drugs are at much greater risk for addiction and other problems than adults," said Stan Marshburn, interim secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services. "Its important for parents to set clear rules, talk with their children starting in elementary school, and keep at it through their teens." Parents can get proven tips on how to talk with their kids (www.StartTalkingNow.org) online.

Students who use drugs and alcohol often dont do well in school and are more likely to disengage or even drop out. "The results clearly show that negative influences in school hurt grades," said Randy Dorn, state superintendent of public instruction. Depression affects how kids do in class  those feeling depressed were more likely to get Cs, Ds, and Fs than kids who werent depressed.

Theres some good news about diet. The percent of kids in grades 10 and 12 who reported drinking two or more sodas a day dropped from about 20 percent in 2006 to around 15 percent in 2008. Drinking other sweetened beverages at school also decreased. School policies limiting sales of sodas and other sweetened beverages may have contributed to this improvement as fewer 10th and 12th-graders reported buying these beverages at school.

The dramatic reductions in teen smoking have leveled off in recent years. Just over 14 percent of 10th-graders report theyve smoked a cigarette at least once in the past 30 days. Thats about the same as two years ago. The survey results also show that among youth who use tobacco, most use multiple types  such as flavored cigarettes, cigars, or chew  along with cigarettes. Since the Department of Health began its Tobacco Prevention and Control Program in 2000, overall smoking rates among youth have dropped by about half.