School violence not rare

Typically in the past year, one of every four Utah high school students was offered illegal drugs at school. One of every nine was in a physical fight there. And one of every 13 was threatened with a weapon at school.

And typically in just the past 30 days, one of every 18 carried a weapon to school. One of every 26 used alcohol at school. And one of every 27 used marijuana at school.

That widespread use of drugs, alcohol and violence in Utah high schools is reported in a new study by the National Center for Educational Statistics, based on surveys of students in grades nine through 12 in Utah and across the nation in 2003.

The good news for Utah is that such problems are below the national average in every category. In some areas, Utah is the lowest among all states that shared data.

In some areas percentages have decreased in the past two years. According to a report from the State Office of Education the number of students who drank alcohol in a 30-day period has dropped to about 16 percent in 2005.

Likewise the number of students using marijuana in a 30-day period decreased to 7.6 percent.

Verne Larsen, safe and drug-free schools coordinator for the State Office of Education, said he credits Utah's lower rankings to two big reasons: religious practice and a longtime prevention effort.

"We live in a state where the dominant religion talks about substance use particularly, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs — that has a big impact," Larsen said.

Plus, he said around the mid-'70s Utah recognized the need for and developed statewide resource materials and programs to go into schools.

Still, Utahns may be surprised at how widespread drugs and violence are.

For example, in the 2003 study Utah was the lowest in the nation in the number of students in grades nine to 12 who reported using alcohol anywhere (not just on school grounds) in the 30 days before being surveyed — 21.3 percent. But that is still one of every five students.

And Utah was the lowest in the nation in the number of high school-age students who reported using marijuana anywhere (not just on school grounds) in the month before being surveyed — 11.4 percent. That is still one of every nine students.

But Larsen said percentages are shrinking because of effective programs and communities coming together in a comprehensive effort.

"I think we are doing a lot more in schools with our new Prevention Dimension effort and parents are becoming more aware," Larsen said. "It's a combination of a lot of things, not just one effort. But I think the collaboration between schools, agencies and parents has been a big factor."