Burlington, Vermont - November 2, 2011
Fewer Vermont teenagers are drinking and smoking according to a new report released Wednesday.
According to the Vermont Your Risk Survey, 66-percent of high school students admitted drinking back in 2009 and that number has dropped to 60-percent in 2011.
When it comes to smoking cigarettes, the number has declined from 18-percent in 2009 to 13-percent this year.
State health officials say the teen smoking rate has declined steadily from 40-percent back in 1995. "We know that patterns established early in life matter. That first decision that a student makes to smoke, to drink or use drugs, can cause irreparable harm. Addictions become lifelong bad habits,"said Vt. Health Dept. Commissioner Harry Chen.
Educators say surveys like this help them create school programming and extracurricular activities which offer fun alternatives to these unhealthy behaviors.
