Survey shows ‘alarming’ health issues among Jefferson County kids

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 11, 2007

PORT TOWNSEND – Thirty percent of Jefferson County 10th-graders feel sad and hopeless almost every day and have given up usual activities as a result.

One in 10 eighth-graders has attempted suicide in the past year.

Twenty-eight percent of 10th-graders reported being drunk or high on illegal drugs at school at least once in the past year.

These statistics are part of a recently released report by Jefferson County Department of Public Health on the health of Jefferson County residents, a report focused primarily on youth.

“When you see certain alarms, you pay attention to them,” said Jean Baldwin, county public health director.

“These are alarming statistics.”