Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 Source: Era, The (CN ON, Newmarket) Copyright: Metroland 2013 Contact: http://www.yorkregion.com/newmarket-on/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2678 Author: Chris Traber FEW SURPRISES IN BOOZE, DRUG REPORT Among York Region Grade 7 to 12 students, more than half drink alcohol, 25 per cent use cannabis and one of eight use non-medical prescription pain relievers, according to a report released last week. The student drug use and health in York Region report - which also stated 20 per cent of young people are overweight or obese and less physically active - contained few surprises, public health nurse and team lead Allison Bailey said. However, an informal survey of local teenagers who were not part of the poll suggested statistics might be underestimated. Regional data, derived from the Ontario student drug use and health survey conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, shocked no one, said Ms Bailey, who helped write the regional report. Sixteen-year-old St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School Grade 12 student Danielle Gauci knows her cohort drinks alcohol, some to excess. "Some of the kids are new to high school and drinking and they blow it out of proportion," she said. She has heard some students use prescription drugs. In particular, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medication Ritalin is crushed and snorted. Weight and activity levels statistics sound right to Danielle. Cannabis use data is underestimated, she said. York Region uses these findings to set health priorities and implement policies, programs and services addressing the needs of youth across the region, she said. The survey, conducted every two years, reveals important shifts. Public health professionals are very interested and attuned to trends, she said, noting they provide the opportunity to share information with community partners, including elementary and high school boards. Over time, trends tell us where we have come from and where we want to go and how to better serve youth. While key findings for risky student behaviour is concerning, some of the data is encouraging, she said. There's a decline in youth booze use. The most commonly used drug is alcohol, with 57 per cent of students reporting use in 2011, compared to 64 per cent in 2009. About one of every eight students in 2011 reported use of non-medical prescription pain relievers, at least once in the past year, compared to one of five in 2009. In 2011, about a quarter of students reported past year use of cannabis, compared to almost one third in 2009. Regional health and lifestyle findings suggest approximately 20 per cent of the students are overweight or obese. That number is similar to 2009 results. In 2011, 58 per cent of students reported being physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on four or more days in the last seven days, compared to 73 per cent in 2009. The drop in exercise is worrisome, Ms Bailey said. "We know screen time is an issue," she said, referring to young peoples' devotion to video, computer and hand-held devices. "We do struggle with it. We are looking at strategies to reduce and balance screen time." Regional statistics are in line with those from the provincial poll involving 9,288 students from 40 school boards. Alcohol topped the substances used by 55 per cent of students in the past year. Half reported usage of high-caffeine energy drinks, 22 per cent smoked cannabis and 8.7 per cent smoked tobacco. The survey of substances reportedly used is ranging and includes glues and solvent inhaling (5.6 per cent), mushrooms and mescaline (3.8 per cent) cocaine (2.1 per cent) through to LSD (1.2 per cent) and crack (0.7 per cent). The 2011 drug report indicated that 38 per cent of students who drank said they were given alcohol, centre spokesperson Michael Torres said. The second most common source was through purchase by a second party. "They know it's wrong and illegal," she said of students' substance use. "They do it to fit in, to be cool. Sad thing is you've got 12-year-olds doing it." Recent St. Brother Andre Catholic High School graduate Clement Mo, 17, believes alcohol usage among teenagers is higher than reported. "From what I've seen and heard, it's more like 60 to 70 per cent," the Markham resident said. The most popular substances among teens is alcohol and marijuana, he speculated. Anecdotally, it seems more young people are dabbling with cocaine and crack. Aurora's Brooke Harrison, 19, a second year University of Western Ontario community development student, also wasn't involved in the high school party scene. "I didn't run with that crowd," the Aurora High School graduate said. Statistics indicating there was a 15-per-cent drop in daily teen physical activity from 2009 to 2011 didn't phase her. "The trend is for people to use technology," she said. "I can understand that only about half of kids exercise." - --- [sidebar] About the survey: The Ontario student drug use and health survey began in 1977, making it the longest ongoing school survey in Canada and one of the longest in the world. It is conducted every two years with the purpose of identifying epidemiological trends in student drug use, mental health, physical activity and risk behaviour, as well as identifying risk and protective factors. The survey has been widely used by health, education and government officials in setting health priorities and facilitating preventative policies, programs and services for youth needs. Highlights Lifestyle factors: * 58 per cent of students were physically active for at least 60 minutes four days out of the week, compared to 73 per cent in 2009 * 12 per cent of students drank soda pop or sports drinks once or more each day in 2011, compared to 15 per cent in 2009 General health: * 19 per cent of students reported having asthma at some point in their lives, similar to the Ontario percentage * 17 per cent of students reported a head injury, similar to the Ontario percentage York Region and Ontario comparison 2009 to 2011: * In 2011, 81 per cent of students reported that their overall health was good, very good or excellent, compared to 88 per cent in 2009 Risky behaviours: * 7 per cent used smokeless tobacco and 14 per cent of students used tobacco Building positive life skills: * One-in-five students reported no participation in organized activities during a school week in 2009 Comparison 2009 to 2011: * In 2011, about 25 per cent of students reported using cannabis in the past year, compared to almost one third in 2009 * 57 per cent of students reported using alcohol in the past 12 months, compared to 64 per cent in 2009 * One-in-eight students in 2011 reported useing prescription pain relievers for non-medical reasons, compared to one-in-five in 2009 * 55 per cent of students eat breakfast every school day 2011 survey findings: * One of every five students is overweight or obese * 56 per cent of York Region students reported drinking at least one high caffeine energy drink in the week before the survey * Almost 40 per cent of students reported psychological distress in 2011, compared to 30 per cent in 2009 * Bullying (verbal attacks) was reported by more than one-quarter of students in 2009 and just less than one-quarter in 2011 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom