LAKE FOREST/LAKE BLUFF — A wellness class now required of freshmen is one of the tools experts hope will undo a recent uptick in alcohol use by Lake Forest High School students.
After an eight-year decline from 2006 to 2014, drinking by sophomores increased nine percent over the last two years and five percent for seniors in the same period, according to the Illinois Youth Survey administered to participating schools by the University of Illinois.
The survey, given to sophomores and seniors every two years to gauge the use of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs by high school students, was presented to the Lake Forest Community High School District 115 Board of Education January 9.
The survey also takes a look at participation in activities, perception by peers, parent influence and mental health related to use, according to comments by Dean of Students John Maher on the video of the presentation to the board.
When the survey was first taken by Lake Forest students in 2006, 47 percent of sophomores and 76 percent of seniors used alcohol within the 30 days from the time they were questioned, according to the results.
That number dropped to 32 percent for sophomores by 2014 but rose to 41 percent in 2016, according to the results. For seniors, there was a 21 point decrease in the first eight years before a five point climb between 2014 and 2016.
Andy Duran, the executive director of LEAD, said he is disturbed by the recent change but thinks a now required life skills wellness class will make a difference in the future. LEAD is a local group devoted to discouraging alcohol and drug use as well as risky behavior, according to its website. The class was an elective until this year.
“I believe you’ll see better decisions by 10th graders in the future and the numbers will decline in 2018,” said Duran. He said he thinks the fact the class is required will expose more students to making good choices. When the survey is given in 2018 it will be the first results questioning an entire class who took it.
The course is designed to foster good decision making on a number of fronts along with alcohol, according to Deborahanne Reimer, the coordinator of the substance abuse program for the school.
“We give them a variety of social emotional tools to better understand themselves,” said Reimer. “We want to empower them to have a voice and make it easier for them to make the right decision.”
Use of marijuana and as well as binge drinking is significantly lower than alcohol use and numbers have remained constant over the last 10 years for sophomores, according to the results. For seniors, there has been a decline.
In 2006, 24 percent of sophomores engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days before taking the survey. The number was 22 percent in 2016. Marijuana use dropped from 19 percent to 18 percent since 2006.
For seniors, 55 percent were involved in binge drinking in 2006 while only 40 percent admitted it 10 years later. Marijuana use was at 35 percent for seniors 10 years ago and is now down to 30 percent. There have been minor fluctuations in that span.
One group which is more likely to stay away from marijuana but not alcohol are athletes, according to comments Maher made in the video presentation. Duran said he thinks the program where coaches try to dissuade athletes from using is important.
“Any time you have someone with an influence over teens talking to them it makes a difference,” said Duran. “That includes coaches, pastors and community leaders and others with that role to play.”
Click here to read the presentation made to the board and click here to watch the video of the presentation.