Drugs, low self-esteem: Survey paints troubling picture of Seminole teens

SANFORD - It might seem as if kids in Seminole County high schools have it made.

Academic, athletic, artistic and high achievers, many of them live in the most affluent middle-class communities in Central Florida.

But look beneath the surface and you may see something much different -- and troubling.

Many are binge drinkers, use drugs, hate the way they look and are depressed or angry.

That's the picture emerging from a new study by the Seminole County Youth Commission – and it worries county leaders a lot.

"The children in our community are a precious resource that we need to foster," said County Commission Chairman Bob Dallari who, with others, is urging the Youth Commission to move swiftly to combat the unhealthy habits of area teens.

Teenagers in other counties across Florida and the nation face similar challenges. But Seminole leaders were not aware of the extent of the problem in their county. And now, they say, they want to do something about it.

Through a combination of its own survey given to county high school students this spring and state data collected in other surveys, the Youth Commission reports:

"We have some kids who come in wasted or with a really bad hangover," said Ryan Kazazis, 16, a junior at Lyman High. "There is way too much drugs and alcohol."

It is part of life in high school these days, said Kazazis. He said you might be surprised at who is drinking and doing drugs. And you have to choose your friends and activities carefully to avoid it, he said.

Kazazis was one of more than 7,000 students from 10 Seminole high schools who participated in a survey aimed at determining what issues affect local teens the most. About a third of county high school students took part in the voluntary survey by the Youth Commission, a group set up several years ago by community leaders as an advocate for youth.

Choosing from among 34 possible issues ranging from bullying, peer pressure, and family income to preparing for college, the student poll settled on top issues:

Drug and alcohol use, body image and depression. The Youth Commission added conflict resolution for a fourth area of attack after it became apparent that student anger and conflict are interwoven in many of the issues.

The survey results provide the clear picture about county teens that was lacking, organizers say.

"I don't think the community had very good information about what is going on with our youth," said Karen van Caulil, executive director of the Heath Council of East Central Florida, which helped conduct the survey and draw the report for the Youth Commission.

But armed with the report, the Youth Commission hopes to find ways for teens to lessen drug and alcohol use, fight depression, improve self image and learn how to get along better with others.

Dede Schaffner, head of the commission and chairman of the School Board, said several approaches already are under way. Those include bringing area social service agencies into the loop so everyone recognizes the same problems.

"We are concerned about our youth and we need to do something about it," Schaffner said.

But much of the work needs to be done at the schools, Schaffner said, and includes getting students themselves to help solve the problems.

The commission took a first step in April by holding a youth summit attended by 200 students from county high schools. They brainstormed on ways to reduce some of the bad behaviors, such as programs on DUI that show what can happen if a student is caught drunk driving.

There are plans, too, to alert parents to the study findings, and what they can do to help, through school newsletters and at meetings. Some simply don't know what's going on with their kids, officials said.

"All parents are not as well informed as they might be," said County Commissioner Carlton Henley, former longtime principal of Lyman High.