Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2008
Source: Windsor Beacon (CO)
Copyright: 2008 Windsor Beacon
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/ZRLbH98z
Website: http://www.WindsorBeacon.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4693
Author: David Persons
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SUBSTANCE USE SURVEY SAYS FEWER ARE USING

Windsor School District students may not be using drugs and alcohol as 
often as in the past, according to results from the Healthy Kids Colorado 
Survey that were being circulated Thursday.

The survey, which was given to Windsor students in the 6th, 8th and 10th 
grades, is used to evaluate general behavioral practices that may help 
and/or hinder the learning progress. The results of the survey have been 
shared with administrators and principals. The results will soon be 
released to the public in newsletters at the high school and middle school, 
district officials say.

The 2007-2008 HKCS survey shows declines for 10th grade students from a 
year ago in the use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana.

Among the survey's findings:

- - The number of 10th grade students who admitted to smoking cigarettes in 
the past 30 days dropped 5 percent from a year ago.

- - The number of 10th grade students who said they drank alcohol in the past 
30 days dropped 9 percent from a year ago.

- - The number of 10th grade students who said they smoked marijuana in the 
past 30 days dropped 5 percent.

Windsor School District Superintendent Karen Trusler said Thursday that 
while the numbers are encouraging, there still remains room for improvement.

"We've seen a drop this year or last year in at-risk behavior and that's 
good," Trusler said. "It's definitely not where we want to be but this is a 
community issue.

"I do believe our implementation of health at the middle school has been 
instrumental (in the lower percentages). We plan to implement health at the 
high school next year. It should help, too."

Trusler said the drug and alcohol handbook that has been distributed 
district-wide and the workshops that have been conducted recently are 
helping but more is needed to be done.

"We have many students who do not experiment," Trusler said.

"But we do have some who do have an issue. We need to take care of those 
students."

Windsor School District Director of Instruction Jeanne Findley could not be 
reached for comment.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D