RENO, NV - Local high school students are having more sex, doing more drugs, and thinking about killing themselves more often. These disturbing new trends are part of the biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey put on by the Centers for Disease Control.

More than 3,000 local middle and high school students were surveyed randomly last Spring on questions relating to their health, safety, and sexual activity.

Washoe School District leaders and board members released information about local students that many will find shocking.

Survey results show more than half of local high school students admit to having engaged in sexual activity. 47 percent say they use marijuana regularly. Seven percent say they've carried a weapon to school in the past 30 days. 13 percent say they've driven drunk. And perhaps the most disturbing, 15 percent of high school students say they've attempted suicide in the past year.

"That's incredible. That's terrible. It's hard to know what to say when the statistics are that high," said Mary Beth Smith, a Reno mother of five.

"I have three kids so unfortunately I am not surprised," added Pat Peel, father of three in Reno.

Superintendent of Washoe Schools, Heath Morrison says he's not surprised either, but he is deeply troubled by results of the district he took charge of in the fall.

"Every data point is a story about one of our children. A story about a child who is thinking about sex at far too young of an age, a child who is thinking about doing drugs," said Morrison.

Survey organizers estimate a 95% confidence level for accuracy results in the survey, meaning they believe students are probably telling nothing but the truth.

Morrison says the results are a call to action, for local educators, parents, and community leaders to look for real solutions, and quickly. But he says the district can't fix these problems alone, citing the old saying, 'it takes a whole village to educate a child.'

"What we don't want is for parents to look at this and say, 'oh it must be someone else's child.' I've got two children in the Washoe County School District and I am going to have a conversation with my children because we have to start at home," said Morrison.

State-wide results are scheduled for release in January, followed by nationwide results in late summer of 2010. District officials say parents can help now by getting involved in their child's school and social life, attending PTA meetings, and asking questions.