About 25 per cent of Toronto students in Grade 7 to 12 say they have tried a drug in order to get high, according to a new report released by Toronto Public Health.

The 'Healthy Futures' report, which was conducted between January and March 2014, surveyed more than 6,000 TDSB and TCDSB students on number of health issues, including physical activity, tobacco use, drugs, alcohol as well as sexual and mental health.

"The report shows good news on several fronts, but also points to opportunities and areas where improvements are needed," David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, said in a news release issued Tuesday.

According to the report, 26 per cent of secondary students said they had participated in either binge-drinking or mixed alcohol with caffeinated drinks.

While only five per cent of respondents said they smoke cigarettes, 66 per cent said they were exposed to second-hand smoke.

Weight and eating habits also appear to be an area that could be improved upon, according to the report.

The survey found that close to one third of the respondents were overweight or obese, an issue which carries an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers later in life.

The report also aimed to investigate mental health patterns among Toronto students.

About one in five students reported being bullied in the past 12 month and one in 10 said they had “intentionally hurt themselves.”

On the subject of sexual health, 20 per cent of secondary students reported having sex and of those, 60 per cent said they used a condom or other barrier the last time they engaged in sexual activity. Close to 20 per cent of those who reported being sexually active said they had been tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

The information collected from the survey, McKeown said, will be used by local health and education organizations to guide decisions on future services and policies surrounding Toronto youth.

"Having data on student health in Toronto is critical to plan to improve the health of residents. Despite the importance of this age group, information on the health of Toronto's youth has been limited,” McKeown said.

“We conducted this survey to fill this gap."