Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 Source: Saanich News (CN BC) Contact: http://www.saanichnews.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209 Author: Tarina White TEENS PROBED ABOUT POT, SEX AND WELL-BEING Hundreds of teenagers in Greater Victoria schools will be asked probing questions about their well-being, sexuality, drug use and eating habits in a provincewide survey this spring that will give a snapshot of what teenagers are up these days. The 144-question survey is being conducted by the McCreary Centre Society in Vancouver to give government and youth workers insight into the health and well-being of teens. Similar surveys were conducted by the centre in 1992 and 1998. Grade 7-12 students are invited to participate in the confidential and anonymous survey, which poses questions such as: With how many people have you had sexual intercourse? How old were you when you first tried marijuana? Did you ever seriously consider suicide? How often do you vomit on purpose after eating? In 1992, about 16,000 B.C. teens took part in the survey and in 1998 that number grew to roughly 26,000 students. Roger Tonkin, chair of the McCreary Centre Society, expects up to 30,000 teens will respond to the survey this spring. Forty of BC's 60 school districts, including Greater Victoria School District 61, have agreed to have the survey distributed to random schools. SD 61 also participated in the previous two surveys. "I think (the high participation) is because people are understanding that in this day and age you have to have some evidence in order to support whether you're doing a good job or whether you need more funding," says Tonkin. The results are used by the B.C. ministries dealing with health and children's issues and Health Canada, as well as community youth workers. Some teenage trends have been pinpointed by analyzing the data from the past two surveys, says Tonkin. "In a number of areas youth behaviours and status have improved," he says, noting that teens are delaying the onset of sexual activity by about a year and that sexual abuse appears to be declining, according to other surveys. "On the other hand, we've noticed quite a considerable increase in marijuana use, and particularly at younger age groups." The society receives about $500,000 in funding a year from the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Ministry of Health to conduct the survey and to carry out other projects. While there was "quite a furor" generated over the society's first survey, Tonkin says parents now appear more accepting of it. John Roche, president of Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Committees, doesn't have a problem with conducting the survey and says he is unaware of any parents in the district expressing concern. "I think most kids these days are well-aware of the controversy around drugs and pre-marital sex and so on," he says. "I don't think surveying the kids and asking their opinions is going to cause them to run out and buy drugs or go out and start having sex." SD 61 chair Charley Beresford supports the survey and says most parents in the district do as well. "It's a very helpful tool in assessing what the health challenges are for our students," she says. "I think people understand there are some challenging issues that need to be looked at." The survey results are expected to be released next December.