Survey: Kids doing drugs

The most recent survey on drug and alcohol use by Laguna Beach students shows little improvement from a 2006 report that indicated the district had the highest use of intoxicants of any district in Orange County.

A comparison of the earlier survey results with the 2008 Healthy Kids Survey shows that seventh- and ninth-graders have reduced their alcohol use somewhat, while 11th-graders have increased slightly.

Marijuana usage, however, has increased in seventh and ninth grades — by 8 percentage points for ninth-graders — but went down by 5 percentage points in 11th grade.

In general, ninth-graders seem to be engaging in more increased risky behavior than the other two grades. In the 2008 survey, 20% said they had used marijuana in the past 30 days, up from 13% in 2006; as for alcohol use, 39% responded that they had used alcohol in the past 30 days, a 6-point increase over the 2006 survey results. “Current” usage of both intoxicants had decreased among seventh- and 11th-graders.

Ninth-graders also reported more binge drinking in 2008 than in 2006.

Below is a comparison of California Healthy Kids Survey questions for Laguna Beach Unified School District, spring 2006 and spring 2008:

1. Percent of students who have used alcohol and other drugs at least once in their lives:

Alcohol (whole drink)

Grade 7: 2006: 24%; 2008: 18%

Grade 9: 2006: 56%; 2008: 54%

Grade 11: 2006: 69%; 2008, 72%

Inhalants

Grade 7: 2006: 13%; 2008: 13%

Grade 9: 2006: 10%; 2008: 14%

Grade 11: 2006: 13%; 2008: 6%

Marijuana

Grade 7: 2006: 10%; 2008: 11%

Grade 9: 2006: 26%; 2008: 34%

Grade 11: 2006: 50%; 2008: 45%

2. Percent of students who used alcohol or other drugs during the past 30 days (current use).

Alcohol (whole drink)

Grade 7: 2006: 18%; 2008: 13%

Grade 9: 2006: 33%; 2008: 39%

Grade 11: 2006: 52%; 2008: 47%

Inhalants

Grade 7: 2006: 7%; 2008: 6%

Grade 9: 2006: 3%; 2008: 3%

Grade 11: 2006: 4%; 2008: 1%

Marijuana

Grade 7: 2006: 7%; 2008: 7%

Grade 9: 2006: 13%; 2008: 20%

Grade 11: 2006: 33%; 2008: 25%

3. Percent of students who participated in high risk behaviors associated with alcohol, tobacco or other drugs

Smoked marijuana on school property in the past month

Grade 7: 2006: 3%; 2008: 4%

Grade 9: 2006: 4%; 2008: 3%

Grade 11: 2006: 12%; 2008: 2%

Ever been drunk or high on school property

Grade 7: 2006: 2%; 2008: 7%

Grade 9: 2006: 12%; 2008: 11%

Grade 11: 2006: 32%; 2008: 17%

Ever been very drunk or sick after drinking

Grade 7: 2006: 10%; 2008: 10%

Grade 9: 2006: 35%; 2008: 37%

Grade 11: 2006: 55%; 2008: 54%

Ever been high from using drugs

Grade 7: 2006: 10%; 2007: 11%

Grade 9: 2006: 26%; 2008: 30%

Grade 11: 2006: 49%; 2008: 42%

Binge drank within the past 30 days

Grade 7: 2006: 4%; 2008: 7%

Grade 9: 2006: 17%; 2008: 25%

Grade 11: 2006: 41%; 2008: 34%

Source: www.wested.org