MOUNT VERNON-Children and adolescents whose parents who tell them not to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs are less likely to use. And a majority of youth (64%) surveyed in Knox County did not use any alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in the last year. Those are just two of the findings in the latest PRIDE survey of Knox County public school students. Results were released at a news conference this morning in Mount Vernon.
In Spring 2013, Knox County schools administered the PRIDE survey. This survey assesses alcohol, tobacco and other drug use as well as other factors related to the health and wellbeing of adolescents. Almost 1,100 youth in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 completed the PRIDE Survey. The survey was made possible with support from Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties and United Way of Knox County.
The following are key findings from the PRIDE survey.
• Most youth (64%) did not use any alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in the last year.
• Knox County youth use ATOD (alcohol, tobacco or other drugs) at slightly higher rates than youth in the U.S.
• On average, Knox County youth start using ATOD later than peers nationwide.
• Younger students have strong perceptions that their parents believe it would be wrong for them to use alcohol (94%), tobacco (97%) or marijuana (99%) (6th graders).
• Very few students carry or use any type of weapon for protection or to harm others either at school or in the community.
• Most students (83%) perceive positive support at school (adults are available, caring, respectful, inclusive of all students and notice good work).
• Knox County youth rarely use ATOD at school; typically, they are using in their own or friends’ homes.
Substance Use Issues in Knox County
• As Knox County adolescents get older, more youth use AToD and the frequency of use increases, particularly for alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
• Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among Knox County youth, with 38% of 12th graders reporting drinking in the last 30 days.
• Among 12th graders, 19% report smoking and 19% report marijuana use in the last 30 days.
• Among monthly drinkers, 66% reported binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks in a row.
Substance Use Issues in Knox County
• As Knox County adolescents get older, more youth use AToD and the frequency of use increases, particularly for alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
• Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among Knox County youth, with 38% of 12th graders reporting drinking in the last 30 days.
• Among 12th graders, 19% report smoking and 19% report marijuana use in the last 30 days.
• Among monthly drinkers, 66% reported binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks in a row.
• By 12th grade, there is a significant decline in parental disapproval with only 55% reporting that their parents would say it was very wrong for their child to drink alcohol
• By 12th grade, there is also a significant decrease in parents setting clear rules, with only 38% of parents setting clear rules often.
• For students who are using substances, the average age to begin drinking and use tobacco is 13-1/2; the average age of first marijuana use 14-1/2.
• By high school, students report that it is fairly or very easy to get tobacco (92%), alcohol (84%) and marijuana (80%).
• 31% of 12th grade students reported that an adult provided alcohol to them or their friends within the last month.
Other Risky Behaviors
• Threats of violence and cyber-bullying peak in middle school
• Most students do not get adequate sleep, and sleep deprivation increases with age. 77% of high school students get less than 8 hours of sleep on school nights.
Risky Behaviors and Other Problems
There is abundant research which links youth ATOD use with other problem behaviors. The Knox County results reinforce this research. For example monthly use of ATOD is strongly related to:
• Being in trouble at school or with the police
• Having thoughts about suicide
o 23% of the students who use substances monthly reported thinking about suicide “sometimes” to “a lot” whereas only 7% who do not use substances reported thinking about suicide.
• Easy access to alcohol or other substances
Research also underscores the importance of supportive adults in the lives of our youth. This holds true for school support but is especially important from parents. For example, parental disapproval is the strongest predictor of ATOD use among youth. In Knox County, for students who reported that their parents think it is very wrong for them to use ATOD, 90% of these students reported no ATOD use in the last year.
Using the 2013 Pride Survey data, local agencies are now working together to address the identified problems. It typically takes a whole community working together to address these adolescent issues. Current efforts involve representatives from law enforcement, health care, business, social services, schools and government. The goal is to take a practical approach to preventing these problems by providing universal access to scientifically proven low-cost strategies.
“For some time we have been seeing more and more children with early behavioral and emotional problems that are costly to help,” said Kay Spergel, Executive Director of the Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties. “Keeping our kids healthy and productive are community issues and this information is a key step toward working with our community partners to prevent these problems in the first place.”
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that our children succeed in school and in life,” said Jen Odenweller, Executive Director of United Way of Knox County. “We are excited to partner with the whole community in developing strategic opportunities that will best serve Knox County youth and are wise community investments.”
Spergel identified some potential strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving the health of our children such as an electronic curfew, getting a good night’s rest, Conscious Discipline, the Pax Good Behavior Game training for teachers, empathy training, and recognizing good choices to name a few.
To view an overview of the 2013 PRIDE Survey results, visit http://www.mhrlk.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/Knoxsubstanceabuseactionteam.
