Results of 2012 Wood County Youth Survey to be released

Overall, drug use among students is down in Wood County since 2010, according to Dr. William J. Ivoska, author of the Biennial Student Survey.

In February, 2012, students in grades 5 through 12 in public and parochial schools throughout Wood County, were surveyed on drug use-related topics, mental health indicators and bullying.

The results of the Wood County Youth Survey have been analyzed by Dr. Ivoska. He will present a summary of the report during a press conference Friday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The press conference will be held at the Wood County Educational Service Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Highlights of the report on Friday will include:

·       15.2 percent of high school seniors report smoking cigarettes, which is an all-time low in Wood County.

·       Annual and monthly alcohol use has continued to decline in all grades, except for a slight increase among high school seniors. Binge drinking rates are declining.

·       Annual alcohol rates for 2012 are lower for all grades, except seniors, when compared to 2010.  When comparing 2012 rates with 2008 rates, then there are significant decreases for all grades including seniors. The same is true for monthly use.  There are significant decreases in all grade levels between 2008 and 2012.

·       Following a national trend, marijuana use is increasing among Wood County teens. For the first time, monthly marijuana use is more prevalent than cigarette use in grades 9 through 12.

These results and other topics examined in the 2012 youth survey, including bullying, will be discussed at the press conference.

The survey was completed through the efforts and support of the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative and the Wood County ADAMHS Board, in collaboration with the Wood County Educational Service Center.