Issaquah High School seniors who reported binge drinking — having five or more drinks in a row — rose to 28 percent this year.

While figures like these may be shocking, the Issaquah Community Network is hoping to use them to effect change in the community.

The state-sponosored group hosted its annual breakfast May 5 to not only present the state data on the Healthy Youth Survey, which was taken this fall, but to discuss what can be done to help teens.

A mix of students, police and concerned citizens discussed the issues and possible solutions in round tables. The hope was to spark an idea to improve life for teens in the area.

“In order to change a culture in a community, it takes a collaborative effort,” said Nancy Campi, vice-chair of the network.

Cyber-bullying was a hot topic of conversation for the group, after two pre-teen girls were charged in a Facebook incident last week.

“I was shocked by the bullying statistics,” said John Rittenhouse, a community member.

About 30 percent of sophomores reported being bullied in the past 30 days.

While Issaquah High School student Maria Dalzell rarely sees kids bullied at school, online bullying is pretty common, she said.

She’s been a victim of online bullying herself, she added. “It’s so easy.”

Another concern was parent attitude toward drinking. Only about 23 percent of students thought their parents considered youth drinking “very wrong,” and 4 percent of students said their parents gave them alcohol to drink.

The group came up with several ideas including a new teen center, providing entertainment for youths in the city and getting younger people involved in mentoring.

The forum was also helpful for politicians and police who are trying to understand student life and issues.

“I’ve gotten a lot out of this,” said Nathan Elledge, the Sammamish Police Chief.

Causes for concern

43 percent of seniors and 27 percent of sophomores drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

28 percent of seniors admitted to binge drinking, having 5 or more drinks in a row, in the past two weeks.

20 percent of sophomores and 23 percent of seniors in the past 30 days had ridden with a driver who had been drinking.

25 percent of seniors had smoked marijuana in the past 30 days, and 44 percent had tried it at least once.

16 percent of seniors reported being drunk or high at school in the past year.

25 percent of sixth-graders and 30 percent of eighth-graders reported being bullied in the past 30 days.

42 percent of sophomores and 48 percent of seniors said they spend three or more hours watching TV, playing video games and using computers for fun on the average school day.

13 percent of eighth graders contemplate suicide in the past year.

The positives

63 percent of sixth-graders said they enjoy being at school

92 percent of seniors said they feel safe at school

4 percent of eighth-graders said they had been a gang member in the past year. The state average was 7 percent.

95 percent of seniors said they wear seatbelts.