For the Reporter
Most King County youth are heeding public health prevention warnings about cigarette smoking and drinking and driving, according to new, preliminary results from the Healthy Youth Survey.
However, e-cigarettes use among youth is increasing. One in five King County high school seniors reports vaping or e-cigarette use, which is double the number that smokes cigarettes.
“Our kids have far too easy access to e-cigarettes, and may not realize that e-cigarettes pose a danger to their health,” said Patty Hayes, Interim Director of Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Nicotine – whether consumed in a traditional cigarette or an e-cigarette – is addictive and dangerous.”
In addition, a new government study indicates a sharp rise in the use of electronic cigarettes by adolescents, a trend officials at the Centers for Disease Control said they found alarming due to the possible adverse effects of nicotine on the developing brain.
Top preliminary substance use findings for King County 10th and 12th graders:
Trending up: Any use of e-cigarettes or vaping in the past 30 days
• Grade 10: 14.3 percent in 2014 and 2.1 percent in 2012
• Grade 12: 21.7 percent in 2014 and 3 percent in 2012
Trending down: Cigarette smoking in the past month:
• Grade 10: 6.5 percent in 2014 and 13.8 percent in 2008
• Grade 12: 10.5 percent in 2014 and 18.8 percent in 2008
Trending down: Alcohol consumption in the past 30 days:
• Grade 10: 19.5 percent in 2014 and 28.9 percent in 2008
• Grade 12: 31.1 percent in 2014 and 41 percent in 2008
About the same: Marijuana or hashish use in the past month:
• Grade 10: 16.6 percent in 2014 and 18.1 percent in 2008
• Grade 12: 25.6 percent in 2014 and 28.4 percent in 2008
Driving under the influence
The number of King County students who reported riding in a car with a person who had been drinking also declined: Reports among high school seniors went from 26.4 percent to 15.5 percent between 2008 and 2014. Similarly, sophomores report 23.3 percent in 2008 and 17.3 percent in 2014. However, almost a quarter of seniors (23.7 percent) reported riding in a car with someone who had been using marijuana.
“Clearly our kids are getting the message that it’s extremely dangerous to drive with someone who’s been drinking,” said Interim Director Hayes. “But kids need to know that driving with someone who’s been using marijuana is also very dangerous.”
Use of illegal drugs (excluding marijuana, tobacco, or alcohol)
Students reporting any use of illegal drugs was also on the decline. In 2008, 9.7 percent of 12th graders said that they used any illegal drug in the past 30 days. By 2014, the number reporting using any illegal drugs in the past 30 days dropped to 6.5 percent. For 10th graders, 6.8 percent said they used any illegal drugs in 2008 and in 2014 that number dropped to 4.7 percent.
More on the Healthy Youth Survey
The Healthy Youth Survey is taken every two years by students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 in public schools across Washington. More than 13,000 King County youth took part in the survey in October 2014. Questions asked students about a wide variety of health and health behaviors.
The Healthy Youth Survey results provide state and local health organizations with needed information to plan, implement, and evaluate publicly-funded programs. Learn more about the Healthy Youth Survey at AskHYS.
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over two million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health — Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health
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