PENINSULA DAILY NEWS AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use have declined significantly among Washington youths, a survey found.
The results show that by and large, anti-drug education and advertising are working, state Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky said at a news conference this week.
About 137,000 students in grades six, eight, 10 and 12, including students on the North Olympic Peninsula, completed questionnaires last fall as part of the Healthy Youth Survey.
The survey is a collaborative effort by several state agencies to identify areas for prevention and intervention in unhealthy behaviors of Washington youth.
Peninsula statistics
In Jefferson County, students in Chimacum, Port Townsend and Quilcene participated in the survey.
Preliminary findings from survey results at those school districts show similar patterns between student and adult behaviors, Jefferson County Health and Human Services Director Jean Baldwin said Thursday.
School district officials are reviewing and analyzing local data and will publicly present Jefferson County findings May 13 at a Local Leaders forum, Baldwin said.
Participants at the forum will review the 2000 census data, the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey of adults and the 2002 Healthy Youth Survey, she said.
“We are very concerned about kids and their families in our community, so we want accurate data and a well thought out plan,”‘ Chimacum schools Superintendent Mary Lynne Derrington said.
In Clallam County, Sequim schools also participated in the survey and have not released their data.
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