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Fewer B.C. teens smoking, drinking

Abuse rates still a concern, according to new health survey
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Youth are in good health, feeling connected to their families, and are waiting longer to try smoking, sex and drugs.

These are just some of the findings of the recently released McCreary Centre Society Adolescent Health Survey (AHS), which was last done in 1998.

"Eighty-four per cent feel healthy and good," said Annie Smith, executive director of the Centre.

"The majority has really high self esteem.

"Injuries are down too so these are all really good messages.

"Risk taking behaviour is also down.

"They are waiting longer to have sex, they are drinking less, they are smoking less, so I think there are some really positive messages in there."

The AHS, which was administered by public health nurses, was completed by over 29,000 Grade 7-12 students across 50 of B.C.'s 59 school districts. The results have been weighted to represent 200,000 youth.

In all, nurses were in 1,760 classrooms across B.C., including those in Sea to Sky. Taking the survey was voluntary.

One of the most encouraging findings in the survey was a decrease in the percentage of youth seriously considering or attempting suicide.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 12-18 in British Columbia.

It is the first time since the AHS was started in 1992 that the rates have decreased.

"I think that was the most positive thing to come out of it for me," said Smith.

The centre will now start to meet with youth to de-brief the survey and tease out what may lie behind some of the statistics.

Of concern, and a puzzle too, are the statistics on abuse. The numbers had been in decline but this survey shows physical abuse rates going up and sexual abuse staying flat.

This year saw a change in the way the survey was completed. In some school districts parents had to actively consent to their kids completing the survey.

When abuse statistics from schools where no parent consent was needed were compared to the previous survey, so like against like, the rate of sexual abuse actually went up, said Smith.

"When we looked at those students where we are absolutely certain we are comparing like with like, sex abuse rates rose," she said.

Also new this year was the question on "Last Saturday Use." Previously the survey asked about drinking and marijuana use the night before the student filled it in. Now the survey specifically asks about drinking and smoking drugs on the Saturday night before the survey.

The survey found that just over one in four  (twenty six per cent) of B.C. students drank alcohol "last Saturday" and twelve per cent used marijuana.

It also found that among males and females who drank alcohol last Saturday, the majority (sixty seven per cent) mixed at least two different types of alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, coolers) rather than drinking one type.

The survey also looked at binge drinking, which is defined in the AHS as having five or more drinks of alcohol within a couple of hours. It can lead to short and long term social, psychological and physical problems. Of youth who had tried alcohol, forty four per cent reported binge drinking in the past month, a rate that has remained consistent since 1998.

Male and female students were equally likely to binge drink.

"We changed our question because young people were saying, 'I don't drink during the week but I go wild on the weekend,'" explained Smith adding that it was a concern to see the youths mixing types of drinks.

The survey also revealed that youth were not using Crystal Meth in the amounts adults fear, prompting the Province's Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, to state in the report's introduction: "... Despite an almost moral panic over methamphetamines taking over the souls of our children, rates of ever having used dropped from four per cent in 2003 to two per cent in 2008 (a statistically, and surely a socially, significant difference)."

The survey is a valuable tool in assessing how youth programs are working and also what areas need to be addressed to create change for positive behaviours.

It also reinforces the understanding that even the most vulnerable children if they have one teacher, one mentor, or one adult to talk to will face an easier and healthier transition to adulthood.

Here are some key findings of the report, which can be found at www.mcs.bc.ca:

• The majority of youth who were seriously injured were injured playing or training for sports or recreational activities (fifty five per cent). Other recreational activities such as snowboarding or roller blading accounted for most of the remaining injuries, although five per cent were injured fighting, four per cent were injured in a motor vehicle accident and four per cent were injured working.

• Not surprisingly, among students who reported being seriously injured, they were most commonly injured at a community sports facility or field (39 per cent), followed by at school (17 per cent) or at home (15 per cent)

• For the first time since 1992, the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide dropped from 16 per cent to 12 per cent in 2008. The percentage who actually attempted suicide also decreased from seven per cent to 5 per cent .

• 20 per cent of girls and 10 per cent of boys say they have deliberately self harmed themselves.

• The AHS showed that building protective factors such as family, school and cultural connectedness can assist even the most vulnerable youth to overcome negative experiences, can assist young people to make healthier choices and can contribute to more positive health outcomes for all youth in B.C.

• 84 per cent of students reported their health was good or excellent.

• The number of students who reported a debilitating health condition or disability dropped to nine per cent from 11 per cent in 2003 and 13 per cent in 1998.

• More students say they always wear a seatbelt (66 per cent in 2008 vs. 54 per cent in 2003).

• 18 per cent of females and seven per cent of males said they had not accessed mental health services when they felt they needed them.

• 50 per cent of students had less than five daily portions of fruits and veggies.

• 25 per cent of males and 11 per cent of females exercise daily; seven per cent of males and 10 per cent of females don't exercise at all.

• Fewer youth smoked cigarettes than in 2003 and those that did waited longer to start. 74 per cent had never tried a puff, compared to 66 per cent in 2003.

• Alcohol and marijuana use declined over past decade, as did use of some drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and mushrooms. Use of other drugs, including hallucinogens, rose.

• Pregnancy rates have remained stable at less than two per cent. However, six per cent reported using withdrawal as their only method of preventing pregnancy the last time they had sex.

• More youth reported physical abuse (from 15 per cent in 2003 to 17 per cent in 2008).

• The percentage of students injured to the point of requiring medical attention fell to 29 per cent from 39 per cent a decade earlier.