Sex and alcohol study in schools

By REBECCA WALSH

Students who attend alternative education schools are more likely to be sexually active and to drink and smoke than other secondary school students, a study has found.

The research, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, also showed they are more likely to suffer from symptoms of depression and to attempt suicide.

But at the same time both groups reported their school environment was highly supportive and more than half said there was an adult in their community they could talk to about a serious problem.

Alternative schools enrol students with behavioural problems, those who have been expelled or have children.

In 2002, there were 2756 students enrolled in such schools, representing about 1.6 per cent of the total population of people aged between 13 and 15.

Students taking part in the study filled out a questionnaire using laptop computers.

The 13- to 15-year-olds were asked questions on a range of topics from their family background and school environment to their sexual behaviour and emotional well-being.

The responses of 268 alternative education students were compared with those of 2104 students who had taken part in the national youth health survey.

The researchers found more than 40 per cent of alternative students had moved their home two or more times in the previous year compared to 15 per cent of secondary school students.

Alternative students were more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Most alternative students had been sexually active and more than 80 per cent had had sexual intercourse compared to 25 per cent of secondary school students.

About 30 per cent of female and 20 per cent of male alternative students reported symptoms of depression. A similar proportion had made one or more suicide attempts in the previous 12 months.

Serious suicide attempts that resulted in medical treatment were made by about 10 per cent of alternative students, in contrast to 2 per cent of secondary students.

Abuse, violence Also among the study's findings:

* Cigarette and alcohol use was higher among alternative education students. More than half the alternative students reported using marijuana at least once a week.

* Seven out of 10 alternative students had been in a serious physical fight in the past 12 months.

* More than half the female alternative students had been sexually abused.