RES 01065 - Laserfiche WebLink

the 50% of ~males who are not happy with their weight, 62% are trying to lose weight either through dieting or eaeercising. Five {5%) used vomiting or laxatives to lose or keep from gaining weight. Unhealthy dietary practices are common in Pleasanton students with only 33 to 36% of students stating they ate fruit, a green salad or cooked vegetables the day before the survey. Thirty-nine percent (39%) ate hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries or potato chips one or more times in the last 24 hours and 60% ate cookies, doughnuts, pie or cake Statistics were also gathered from the California State Department of Education's Safe Schools Assessment Report of 1998-99. This report is required monthly of school districts and is based on the number and type of suspensions and/or expulsions in their schools. It indicated an increase in the total number of incidents in the drug/alcohol offense category, an increase in the Crimes Against Persons category of Battery, an increase in property crimes, and an in,ease in dollars lost to the District per student. Of all the statistics listed, only the statistics for the Drug/Alcohol Offenses category wese higher than Alameda County statistics, The Plea~nton Unified School District administered a survey entitled the California Healthy Kids Survey voluntarily to 2,136 students in 7% 9t~, and 11~h grades in the fall of 1999. This survey addressed illegal sub- stance ,!~; violence and safety, and poor physical health factors that were also addressed in the YRBS. It also a~ked students the number of times they had moved or changed addresses in the past 12 months. Thirty. two (32%) of 7th graders, 35% of 9t~ graders and 25% of 11'~ graders reported moving at least once in the past l 2 months. There are common issues in all of these studies. Alcohol consumption is a concem of all parents and the community as the level of involvement (very drank or sick after drinking) is significantly higher than the state avzrage, with 24% of 9ta graders and $2% of 11~' graders stating they had been very drank or sick after drinking. Thirty percent (30%) of 11t~ graders reported binge drinking in the past month (binge drinking is the consump- tion of five drinks in a row in a single setting or occasion). Adolescent binge drinkers open themselves up to many alcohol-related problems, such as losing control over their actions, making poor choices, and taking part in high-risk activities such as unprotected sex or driving while intoxicated. The survey shows that 23% of the students in ll th grade report that they have been high or drank on campus. Nearly 40% of 11'h graders admit to being in cars with'drivers who have been drinking and 38% admit to driving after drinking. Driving under the influence is one of the main causes of traffic accidents and death among youth. Alcohol is by far the most widely used substance across grade levels with 16% of 7'h graders drinking a full drink to 72% of 11'1~ graders doing the same. Six percent (6%) of middle school students and up to 40% of high sch0o111,h graders repon that they have been offered or given illegal drugs on school property at least once over the past 12 months. High school students, 7~0 of 9'~ graders and 90%of llth graders indicate that it is easy to very easy to access cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. This survey reports 18% of 9'~ graders and 44% of 11'~ graders smoking at least one cigarette. Ciga- retie smoking U~nds to fall below alcohol use but above marijuana. Inhalants are the most widely used drug among 7e graders due to their availability. Marijuana exceeds all other drugs in high school. Two percent (2%) of Tth graders, 17% of 9t~ graders and 45% of 11th graders reported using marijuana at least once. Nineteen percent (19%) of 11~ graders used marijuana in the last 30 days with 6% stating they had smoked it on school property in that rime period. 22