In response to the results of the 2012 LZHS Youth Survey, Bear Facts conducted its own survey to test the validity of the results.  Our findings confirmed that two out of three LZHS students are alcohol free, and these students should be commended for their choices.

            In a survey of 376 students, 79 percent said they doubted the Youth Survey’s data about students who drink alcohol or do drugs.  They thought the number was higher than initially  published, but the numbers from both surveys are almost identical, proving this misconception to be false.  

            The idea that “everyone’s doing it” can be dangerous, as it often influences kids to leave their better judgment, or common sense, behind, according to Kids Health’s website.  The results of both surveys should serve as a reminder to students at LZHS that not everyone is drinking or using drugs.

            In reality, the majority of students choose not to participate in these activities at all.  Even though 73.8 percent of students in the Bear Facts survey said they have access to alcohol, most said they do not use it.

            Many students also reported having access to marijuana, but they choose to avoid using it.  The results of the Bear Facts survey indicate that an even lower number of students have smoked marijuana in the past year than reported in the Youth Survey.

            Our survey found that just under 20 percent of students, or one in five students, have smoked marijuana in the last year.  Although nearly 50 percent of students in the survey said they had access to marijuana, a relatively low number actually use the drug.

            Whether drug-free campaigns or personal decisions are the driving force for students to abstain from drugs and alcohol, students deserve recognition for their positive choices.

            Also, the students who continue to doubt the statistics should accept that more of their peers are choosing drug-free lifestyles.  These numbers have been proven twice, and doubters should stop ignoring the facts and accept that the majority of the student body is making good choices.  

            The students at LZHS are not as involved with drugs and alcohol as many students think, and the numbers prove it.  These drug-free students should be celebrated and encourage others to make good decisions.