WOOD COUNTY TRACKS STUDENT ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUG USE

BOWLING GREEN - A first-time survey of public school students in Wood County regarding their use of alcohol and drugs shows William Ivoska something he already knew: Kids are kids wherever they are.

"Generally, you're all in the same ballpark," he said when asked about usage differences among the nine public school districts in Wood County.

The survey, which was given to students in grades 5-12 over the winter, showed Wood County teens drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes at about the same rate as teens across the country, while marijuana use among high school seniors here is slightly higher than the national rate - 35.5 percent of Wood County seniors compared to 34.9 percent nationally.

Across the country, drug and alcohol use among teens has been declining in recent years.  Last year, 70.1 percent of high school seniors in Wood County - and nationwide - reported drinking.

But a slightly higher percent of Wood County students said they drink to get drunk - a habit known as binge drinking.

Nationwide, 30.9 percent of seniors say they had five or more drinks in a row in the past month, while 34.5 percent of Wood County seniors reported binge drinking.

The survey showed county eighth and 10th graders smoked less than their peers nationwide, but smoking among high school seniors was higher - 27.2 percent locally, 24.4 percent nationally.

Mr.  Ivoska, PhD, met with Wood County commissioners yesterday to discuss the results of the survey commissioned by the Wood County Educational Service Center and the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.

Larry Mershman, executive director of the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board board, said the survey is intended to stimulate community awareness and discussion of the issues.

"It's important for the constituents of Wood County to understand this is not a problem of today.  This is a problem of yesterday, today, and tomorrow," he said.

Mr.  Ivoska, vice president of student services at Owens Community College, has been conducting similar biannual surveys of Toledo and Lucas County students in grades 5-12 for 14 years.

The results, which include parochial as well as public schools, are more telling in that they track trends over a number of years.

Still, Mr.  Ivoska said that even without historical data for Wood County, the survey results mirror the numbers coming from urban, suburban, parochial, and public schools nationwide.

The Wood County survey also questioned youngsters about their height and weight as well as mental-health issues.  It showed that three out of every 10 Wood County teens say they are overweight or at risk of being overweight.

The survey also indicated that teens suffering from depression are more likely to be using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.