Prince George, B.C.-  There are fewer students in grades 7-12 in the Northern Interior who have tried alcohol or marijuana.  That’s according to a study by the McCreary Centre society which  surveyed students in Prince George, Quesnel and  Nechako Lakes in 2013.

While the Provincial results were released earlier this year, the  regional details are just being made available now

The report shows  that last year,  58% of students surveyed last year had tried alcohol,  compared to 65% who  reported trying booze in  2008.

As for marijuana use, the survey  last year had 33%  reporting they had tried  marijuana compared to 39%  who took the survey in 2008.

While the news of  reduced alcohol and marijuana use may be  encouraging,  students in the Northern Interior are still more  likely than their peers in other parts of B.C.  to  have  tried  booze or pot.

More good news?

The survey shows there were fewer  students in 2013  trying  drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth and  were less likely  to have used tobacco (28%)compared to  their peers  surveyed in 2008 when 35%  said they had tried tobacco.

The survey does point out some areas of concern, noting  nearly one in 5 students (19%) had experienced a concussion in the past year,  that’s higher than the provincial rate of 16%.

There is also concern about mental health, especially among girls, as stats there show  they are three times more likely  than  males to have  deliberately harmed themselves, and  were twice  as likely  as their male counterparts to have seriously though about suicide, that is virtually unchanged from the  same survey conducted in 2008..

The McCreary Centre Society  is a non profit organization which is focused on  the health of B.C. Youth.

The full report can be accessed here.