Pubdate: Sun, 30 Oct 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Cindy E. Harnett
Page: D12
Referenced: http://mapinc.org/url/PydeQdvG

MANY YOUTH SAY THEY OFTEN DRIVE IMPAIRED, STUDY FINDS

One in five youth report heavy alcohol and marijuana use - frequently
driving while impaired - and are concerned about their growing
dependency, according to a new study.

The report Changes and Challenges, which highlights a decade of
observations of the health and well-being of young adults in British
Columbia, was produced by Island Health and the University of Victoria.

The study spans a decade, from 2003-2013, of repeat interviews with
662 people from Greater Victoria as a random sample of youth from age
12 to 18.

The 10-year study reveals a generation of young people highly
connected to family, partners and their communities, often with higher
education.

It found that many of the youth pursued higher education, with 45 per
cent completing a university degree, 23 per cent obtaining a college
diploma and 19 per cent becoming certified in a trade.

However, it finds struggles with work, housing, debt, stress, lack of
sleep, and mental and physical health issues in the transition to
adulthood. The findings are similar to national data.

"This snapshot in time of people now 25 to 31 years old is applicable
to any youth right now," said UVic psychologist and lead author Bonnie
Leadbeater.

The study says 65 per cent use marijuana at least occasionally. "One
in five youth report heavy use of alcohol and marijuana," the study
says. "These youth report frequently driving while impaired, and many
are worried about their growing dependence on these substances."

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake said the findings regarding cannabis
and driving are "of real concern as we look to legalization of marijuana."

"It is critically important that we think about drugged driving," Lake
said. "I know from conferences I've attended on cannabis that people
are drinking and consuming cannabis together, and that means if they
were to get behind the wheel of a car they put themselves and others
at great risk.

"I think as a society we need to get our heads around ways and means
of reducing the number of people doing that," he said. The study calls
for better public health policies.

Dr. Richard Stanwick, a co-author and chief medical health officer of
Island Health, said the study shows hypertension and obesity are
threatening the long-term health of more than a third of the young
people studied.

The report found 13 per cent of young adults were obese and 24 per
cent have blood pressures around 140/90. A healthy reading for a
teenager is 110/70.

As well, in 2013, half of people age 22-29 in this study have had nine
or more sexual partners. This age group across Canada also has higher
rates of sexually transmitted infections than any other age group.

Recommendations in the report include: Offering more affordable
housing near university and college campuses; making more healthy
nutritional choices available in education facilities; making public
spaces and pathways safer and more secure for recreation and "active"
transportation; offering more positive sexual education in early
adolescence; and making stress-coping strategies and substance-abuse
screening tools more available to youth.
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MAP posted-by: Matt