Mar. 5--Anchorage high school students are continuing a years-long trend of making smarter, safer choices when it comes to drugs, alcohol and sex, according to survey results released Thursday by the Anchorage School District.
The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows improved data in most categories.
Among the findings:
--23 percent of high schoolers say they binge drink.
--42 percent of high schoolers say they have had sex.
--39 percent of high schoolers say they have tried marijuana.
These numbers have improved since the first survey in 1995 when 32 percent of high schoolers said they were binge drinking; 44 percent said they had had sex; and 48 percent of high schoolers said they had tried marijuana.
The survey is conducted every two years throughout U.S. high schools. It asks students to answer health-related questions anonymously. Questions varied from drunk driving to drinking milk.
The statewide results were released in early January. Data comparing Alaska teens with teens in the rest of the country won't be available until the summer.
Among other findings for Anchorage high schoolers:
--1 percent of high schoolers say they are frequent smokers, meaning they smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day.
--9 percent of high schoolers say they have been threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.
--8 percent of boys and 20 percent of girls say they have seriously considered suicide.
Michael Kerosky, supervisor of the district's Safe and Drug Free Schools program, said he is happy with most of the numbers, which show an increase in good behaviors. He said it's good to see the majority of the kids doing well. "But any student exhibiting these behaviors is one too many," he said.
District officials said one new front in student health that they have increased their efforts on is reaching out to parents. One campaign the district is working on is called "Parents who host lose the most." It is trying to teach parents not to host alcohol parties at their homes. District officials are telling them it is not only illegal but bad for the health of their children.
School districts, educators, policy-makers and nonprofits all use the data from the risk behavior survey to track trends and focus their efforts.
To read the full results, go to adn.com/education.
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Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.
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