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By Paul Carter
LDS High School Senior's Lifestyle Leads Trend
DENVER, COLORADO -- The example of Lindsey Searle, a senior at
Ponderosa High School in Parker Colorado and a member of the Parker
Colorado Stake, was presented in The Denver Post as representing a
trend toward less risky behavior by today's teens.
Described by The Post as someone who "parties with the 'in' crowd"
and "having a reputation among her peers", Lindsey clarifies just
what that reputation is: "Everyone knows I'm the girl that doesn't
drink. I've never drank, never smoked, never had sex." Lindsey also
mentions that, "I'm fine with that. I don't puke at the end of the
night."
The Denver Post article presents results from the 2001 Youth Risk
Behavior Survey for Douglas County Colorado, where the town of Parker
and Ponderosa High are located. The survey was first given in
Douglas County in 1992. It was developed by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in Atlanta and is offered every three years
throughout the United States.
Results from this past Spring, when 1,497 juniors participated in the
Douglas County Schools, suggest that high school students are
choosing more and more to avoid unhealthy behaviors. The survey is
voluntary, which could affect the accuracy of responses, and asks
questions regarding use of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, weapons and
fighting, sexual activity, suicide, and weight.
As cited in the Post article, here are partial findings from the 2001
survey and how they compared to those of 1992:
| 2001 | 1992 | |
| 76% | 81% | had consumed "more than a few sips" of alcohol |
| 59% | 67% | had tried smoking |
| 36% | 53% | had participated in sexual intercourse |
| Of those who responded that they had participated in intercourse: |
| 35% | 54% | stated they had had more than one sexual partner |
| 6% | 12% | stated they had been pregnant |
Figures regarding drug use seemed to be quite inaccurate, according
to three other Ponderosa students who were also interviewed in the
Denver Post article. The survey presented 57 percent as the number
of juniors in Douglas County who had never tried Marijuana. The
three other students suggested that four out of five of all students
had actually tried marijuana, so an accurate survey would present a
figure closer to 20% who had never smoked pot.
Results from the survey are used by the school district to establish
efforts for reducing unhealthy behaviors by students.
Source:
Douglas students' behavior less risky
Denver CO Post 24Sep01 P2
By Karen Rouse: Denver Post Staff Writer
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