Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2007
Source: Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD)
Copyright: 2007 Argus Leader
Contact:  http://www.argusleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/842
Author: Terry Woster
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

SD TEENS' TOBACCO USE DOWN, MARIJUANA UP

PIERRE -- South Dakota school kids are smoking tobacco  less and
marijuana more than they did a decade and  one-half ago, a state
survey of risky behaviors  suggests.

The state Board of Education received the latest Youth  Risk Behavior
survey earlier this week in Pierre. The  report, based on responses
from South Dakota students  in grades nine through 12 at randomly
selected public,  private and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, is
done  every other year. The most recent survey is based in  2005 data,
and state officials compared the outcome  with 1991 responses to
outline trends.

The trend to more pot and less tobacco was among the  shifts shown by
that comparison.

The shift in tobacco use was perhaps not as great as  anti-smoking
forced would like -- 61 percent of  students say they have tried
cigarettes, compared with  69 percent in 1991. But 37 percent said
they had used  marijuana in 2005, compared with 21 percent 14 years
ago.

Other statistics of note included:

- - Fewer students, 44 percent, say they've had  intercourse than in
1991 (48 percent).

- - Fewer students have been in a vehicle in the past  month with a
drinking driver or have driven a vehicle  themselves when drinking
alcohol. In 1991, 50 percent  of those asked said they'd ridden with a
drinking  driver and 28 percent said they'd driven while  drinking.
The 2005 data showed 32 percent had ridden  with a drinking driver and
17 percent had driven while  drinking.

- - About one in three students, 34 percent, reported  binge drinking in
the previous month in the most recent  survey. In 1991, 41 percent of
those asked said they'd  done that.

- - While 19 percent of students in 2005 said they'd  considered
suicide, that percentage was down from 30  percent in 1991.

- - And more students are at risk for becoming obese, 14  percent in the
latest survey, compared to 11 percent in  1991. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake