McCreary survey shows adolescent gains

Adolescents in British Columbia are generally making wiser health decisions and are healthier than they were five years ago.

That’s the good news delivered by the 2008 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey released in April by the McCreary Centre Society, which has conducted this province-wide study roughly every five years since 1992. Results were compiled from detailed questionnaires completed by almost 30,000 students in grades 7-12 in 50 of 59 B.C. school districts last February through June.

Highlights of the report show that the use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana has all fallen since the last study, done in 2003. Another important finding was that for the first time since 1992, the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide dropped, from 16% to 12% in 2008. Those who actually attempted suicide also decreased from 7% to 5%.

Fewer youth in B.C. smoked cigarettes than in 2003, and those who did waited longer to start. Three quarters of students had never tried even a puff of a cigarette, compared to 66% in 2003.

For the first time since 1992, the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide dropped, from 16% to 12% in 2008. The percentage who actually attempted suicide also decreased from 7% to 5%.

As a sign of how good the news was, McCreary Executive Director Annie Smith said adolescents were not eating enough fruits and vegetables, nor were they getting enough exercise – sins that pale when compared to the pitfalls of drugs and sexual behavior (another category examined by researchers).

“With all the negative stereotyping we see and hear about young people in our province, it is encouraging to note that smoking, alcohol use and marijuana use have all declined since the last survey,” Smith said.

The survey showed that building protective factors “such as family, school and cultural connectedness can assist even the most vulnerable youth to overcome negative experiences, can assist young people to make healthier choices,” and can contribute to more positive health outcomes, according to Smith.

Those supportive ties of “connectivity” have been the foundation of A-DES’ prevention philosophy for more than half a century.

Still, the news was not all good: There was an increase in the use/misuse of prescription drugs, from 9% to 15% --  a trend (like poor diet and exercise) that is mirrored throughout society regardless of age.

For full data from the McCreary report, go to: www.mcs.bc.ca/