Nov. 20--VANDALIA -- Risky behavior among Fayette County teens has not changed much over the years, according to surveys, but a coalition is hoping to change that.

Earlier this year, 160 sophomore students in Brownstown, Ramsey, St. Elmo, Vandalia and alternative education schools were surveyed on issues ranging from substance abuse to sex to physical and emotional well being to social networking. Fayette Teen Issues Coalition uses the anonymous surveys as a barometer for what teens are thinking and feeling in order to help agencies evaluate ways to prevent risky behavior.

The last few years the survey has been conducted, many of the results have remained the same, including the number of those surveyed living with both parents. That number has hovered around 50 percent. In addition, teens' biggest concerns still remain to be alcohol, tobacco and drugs followed by sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Obesity was not a concern among those surveyed, with only two teens indicating it was a concern.

On the topic of alcohol and drug use, 38.1 percent reported they have never tried alcohol, but of those who have, most had their first drink at age 13 -- a year younger than a majority of those surveyed last year -- and a majority continue to drink a few times a year.

When it came to marijuana, a majority surveyed -- 75 percent -- indicated they have never tried it. Slightly more than the previous year.

The results of the survey were revealed at an all-day youth forum Nov. 4 attended by 60 teens and school and community members.

In the evening, four students presented suggestions for preventing risky behavior to a panel of community members representing various law enforcement and social agencies and schools throughout the county.

During forum discussions around an issue that has always been a problem among teens -- alcohol and drug use -- teens recommended a number of ways that and other risky behaviors can be reduced. One suggestion involved the need for peer mediation in which teens help other teens. They also suggested condensing school alcohol and drug policies because some are too complex.

Another issue brought forward was the lack of activities for teens, particularly entertainment. Teens expressed their wish to get a movie theater back in Vandalia to the city's mayor, who attended the forum along with other community leaders. The teens also recommended the need for more after-school activities that are not sports-related and discussed opening school gyms after school and evenings.

Coalition President Ginger Boas believes an increase in activities will decrease the number of incidents of risky behavior.

Teens also were concerned about equal treatment from area law enforcement agencies. While some area law enforcement said most complain they are too harsh on teens, the teens at the forum felt some law enforcement are too lenient. However, enforcement may vary among each community's department.

Even though the coalition has addressed some of the those issues in the past with the survey, Boas said the coalition is trying to take a different approach with the youth forum.

"It's a long-term fix," she said. "It's not going to be fixed today."

Boas hopes the forum changes attitudes and makes adults more aware of what's going on in the teen community.

"We hope to turn the tide a little bit," she said.

The coalition and panel members are meeting Nov. 30 to work on ways to implement the suggestions. Boas said a similar forum in Madison County has been instrumental in changing some law enforcement and school policies. The coalition hopes to make the forum an annual event.

"If it just increases awareness, it's going to help," she said. "I think some parents in the community need to hear what's going on with kids."

Cathy Thoele can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 126 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Teen survey results

A teen survey conducted in Fayette County schools measured risky behavior among sophomores. Here are some of the results of the survey.

Questions on teen sexual activity revealed more teens are having sex, however, fewer are doing it with more than one partner. Based on results, 47.5 percent indicated they have had sexual intercourse while 51.9 have not -- similar to last year's statistics. However, more teens are having sex since 2002 when 37.8 percent said they have had sexual intercourse. A majority of those who have had sex reported their first time at age 15 and reported having sex once a month or less, and more teens have just one sexual partner -- 48.7 percent -- than in 2002 when only 36.3 percent were in monogamous relationships.

While 47.5 percent believed they had no chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease, the same percentage believed they might.

The survey also gaged physical and emotional abuse among teens. Forty-three percent of them reported knowing a friend who has been emotionally abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. That number decreased from a year ago when 60.7 percent responded they knew someone who was emotionally abused.

Another topic surveyed teen use of social networking sites, with students being asked how often they log onto such sites. The highest percentage of them -- 24.4 -- do so once or twice a week followed by 20 percent who don't at all. While less students were visiting such sites weekly than the previous year, more were logging on a daily basis -- 27.3 percent compared to the 18.8 percent recently surveyed who say they do.

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