Make no mistake about it, sex, drugs and alcohol are a fact of life for some kids at Davis High. The first question that most parents want to know is: how many kids? What percentage of DHS students make these kind of choices? The answer for parents is, and as far as we can tell has always been, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. The most recent study of drug and alcohol use at the high school was done by the district in 2007.  According to findings of the Healthy Kids Survey which was administered to junior students, 24% used alcohol in the past 30 days and 16% used marijuana in the past 30 days. When asked if they had ever tried alcohol or drugs, 34% indicated they had tried alcohol and 29% indicated they had tried marijuana, reinforcing the theory that adolescence is the age of experimentation.

Underneath the "how many" question is the real question on parents' minds: "Will my child be one of those kids who does?" As a parent, if you are worried about whether or not your child will make some of these destructive choices, take heart.  The fact that you are worried about it at all is the first step toward preventing it.  Believe it or not, there are parents in Davis who still have the "boys will be boys" attitude; some with the “not my child” attitude and some who look the other way when beer parties are being held in their homes.  Add peer pressure to parent attitudes, and what is a kid to do?  That is why it is so important for parents to TALK TO EACH OTHER. If Joe and Tom have decided to go to the movies with some guys and spend the night at Tom's - call Tom's parents and double check.  Gee, Tom's parents thought they were spending the night at your house! BUZZZ - RED ALERT!!! We all want to trust our kids, but believe us, this is not the time to be stupid about it.  We know one mom whose rule it was that when her son came in for the evening, he had to give her a kiss good night (so she could check his breath for alcohol).  The Davis Police Department provides parents  drug and alcohol testing kits at a very reasonable cost.  Take advantage of these if you have any suspicions of drug or alcohol use.

Myth:  Honor students do not engage in these behaviors.  Fact:  Usage is pervasive among all levels of academic achievement, kids in clubs, kids in sports, kids in AP and honors classes, so don’t be fooled.

Peer pressure also comes into play when making decisions about sex.  It is devastatingly flattering to many sophomore girls to discover that they are very attractive to seniors.  Also, some serious couples begin to form in high school.  TV, music, teen magazines and advertising scream "just do it."  Many teens respond, "Why not?" Your values may or may not make a difference in the choices your teen makes.  Again, pay close attention to with whom your kids spend their time and get to know their parents.  Be aware of unsupervised time in empty homes on weekends, evenings or even at lunch time.  Watch for drinking and/or drug use which often precedes sex.

All high school kids need information about sex, including STDs, HIV and AIDS. DHS provides a required class in Health and sponsors many informational events.  Don't neglect community resources, especially the Davis Community Clinic, which offers a variety of services to teens.

Our message is this:  don't look to Davis High as the cause of these kinds of problems.  As this seems like a high school issue (because, indeed this is when we expect high school peer pressure to make it so), it is in reality a family/community/society issue.   DHS neither officially nor unofficially condones these behaviors, and in fact, has gone to great lengths to oppose it using classes, extracurricular structures, and PTA parent education programs.

But you can look to Davis High to help you as a family deal with them.  If you and your child have trouble communicating about any of these issues - alcohol, sex, drugs, eating disorders - DHS school nurse Susan Hawkins (ext. 124), Crisis Counselor Deb Kimokeo (ext.133) or your counselor can be invaluable resources for both you and your child.

One last message.  There are plenty of kids (we're even going to go out on a limb here and say most kids) at DHS who make good choices.   The important thing is the choice is about the behavior, not about your child.  DHS supports good choices and is there to help.  And that is a message to share with your kids.