Roanoke, VA 24018
Phone: 540- 772-4341
2008 Youth Survey Report - Executive Summary
Introduction
Information is one of the most powerful weapons a community can have to battle adolescent alcohol use, drug use and other high risk youth behaviors. Since 2002, Roanoke County Prevention Council has gathered and utilized Youth Risk Behavior Survey data to evaluate prevention strategies and monitor many health risks facing our youth. The result is a reservoir of data that reflects trends in youth behavior and attitudes over the last 6 years.
The purpose of this report is to highlight some of the results of the 2008 Roanoke County Youth Risk Behavior Survey. We welcome your review of these finding and your participation in the Prevention Council’s efforts. For more information please visit our website at www.preventioncouncil4youth.org.
The 2008 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates a number of reductions in the types of behavior that risk the health, development, and lives of our children (see data summary on page 6). These reductions have coincided with the activities made possible through a strong partnership between Roanoke County Schools and the Roanoke County Prevention Council, a broad-based community partnership of parents, youth, schools, law enforcement, family service health providers and other community leaders focused on fostering the healthy development of Roanoke County’s youth.
Use of Alcohol and Marijuana Among Youth
Adolescent use of alcohol and other drugs is a serious risk to the health and safety of our youth. Underage drinking is a factor in almost half of the deaths from motor vehicle accidents and is a major contributor to death due to unintentional injury.
The results of the 2008 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate that Roanoke County is making strong and continued progress toward reducing alcohol use among high school students.
- Lifetime use (ever used alcohol) and 30 day use of alcohol declined among Roanoke County high school youth from 2002 – 2008.
- Lifetime use (ever used) and 30 day alcohol use declined among Roanoke County middle school youth from 2006 to 2008. This reversed a previous increasing trend.
- The percentage of youth in middle school who report using alcohol before the age of 13 in middle school declined from 2004 – 2008.
- The percentage of youth in middle school who report using marijuana before the age of 13 in middle school declined from 2006 – 2008. This reversed a previous increasing trend.
- Research demonstrates that the earlier youth begin using alcohol and other drugs the greater their risk of addiction and serious health/life consequences.
Continuing Challenges and Strategies
Binge Drinking and Riding with Drunk Drivers: While underage drinking is on the decline in Roanoke County, certain types of alcohol-related behavior remain a significant concern. Binge drinking (having five or more drinks of alcohol in a row) places youth at risk of alcohol poisoning and death. In addition, it establishes a pattern of problem drinking and addictive behavior.
- Binge drinking (more than 5 drinks in a row) in the last 30 days, declined slightly among Roanoke County high school youth from 2004.
- The percentage of Roanoke County high school youth who rode in a car with someone who has been drinking also declined slightly (26.2% in 2004 to 25.3% in 2008). This compares to a significant decline in 30 day use of alcohol among high school youth from 43% in 2004 to 36.7% in 2008.
Low Perception of Parental Disapproval: While reductions have been achieved in alcohol use among high school and middle school age youth, further reductions are needed. A major factor associated with preventing early onset of alcohol and drug use is parental attitudes regarding alcohol use. The Surgeon General emphasized the importance of parents in preventing under age drinking. Roanoke County YRBS results indicate that more work in this area is needed.
Too often, parents are unaware of how early high risk behavior begins and their role in preventing it. The Prevention Council has partnered with Roanoke County Schools and Roanoke Valley Pediatricians to increase parent knowledge and the ability to communicate effectively with their children about the risks of alcohol and drug use.
Prescription Drug Use and Inhalants: The survey also showed that adolescent use of prescription drugs and inhalants are a serious concern.
- While prescription drug use among middle school youth declined from 2006 to 2008. There was a very slight increase in prescription drug use among high schoool youth during that time period.
- While the percentage of middle school youth who report breathing or sniffing a substance to get high declined from 2004 to 2008, there was a slight increase among high school youth.
Internet Safety and Bullying: Trends show children are increasingly immersed in the digital world where they are only a few clicks away from accessing and sharing information with others. This increased connectivity poses unique risks and challenges to youth safety, health and well-being that were not there five years ago.
Responses to the 2008 youth survey revealed that about one in five middle school youth have sent and received threatening messages via technology. The percentage is even higher for high school youth.
While increases in technology are positive and necessary, parents need resources to assure adequate parental supervision. The Prevention Council works with Roanoke County Schools to inform parents and provide parent training on internet and technology.
Conclusion
To reduce alcohol and drug use and other high risk behaviors among Roanoke County youth, we must communicate with our children and address these issues early before they begin middle school. The Roanoke County Prevention Council works to reduce youth high risk behavior in our community by engaging in intervention strategies aimed at:
- Educating the community about the risks facing youth and families. Special effort must be made to reach parents and youth before and during middle school.
- Strengthening families by providing education to parents of pre-teens to encourage family communication about the risks of drug and alcohol use and to increase family supervision of youth.
- Strengthening our community’s ability to prevent adolescent alcohol and other drug use through comprehensive and cooperative environmental strategies.
- Providing more opportunities for positive youth involvement and recognition in our community.
We call on every sector of the Roanoke County community to join our efforts to address the needs of our youth. Children, our most precious assets, are facing serious threats to their health and development. Be informed, take a stand and get involved!
“One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a youth." - Forest Witcraft
Summary of Roanoke County 2008 Youth Behavior Survey Results
Percentage of Roanoke County youth who report |
Middle |
Middle |
Middle |
Middle |
High |
High |
High |
High |
Ever tried alcohol (more than a sip) |
27.3 |
31.9 |
33.1 |
24.8 |
73.3 |
71.5 |
65.6 |
64 |
Had one drink or more last 30 days |
|
|
14 |
11.1 |
45.6 |
43.0 |
39.2 |
36.7 |
First drink before 13 years old |
23.2 |
26.4 |
25.5 |
22.5 |
25.5 |
22.7 |
21.1 |
21.1 |
Easy to get alcohol |
46.5 |
51.2 |
50.7 |
47 |
83.0 |
82.3 |
79 |
79.8 |
5 drinks in a row last 30 days |
|
|
|
|
27.8 |
26.2 |
25.4 |
24 |
Rode with someone drinking |
27.9 |
33.7 |
29.8 |
24.6 |
27.7 |
26.2 |
25.5 |
25.3 |
Drove while drinking |
|
|
|
|
13.6 |
13.1 |
10.5 |
10.9 |
Tried smoking |
24.5 |
24.1 |
18.9 |
16 |
57.4 |
51.1 |
43.4 |
43.3 |
Had one smoke or more last 30 days |
8.9 |
8.4 |
11.8 |
5.1 |
30.0 |
25.0 |
19.7 |
20.5 |
Easy to get cigarettes |
46.4 |
50.9 |
47.3 |
41.6 |
86.2 |
84.7 |
80.5 |
79.7 |
Chew tobacco/snuff |
3.8 |
5.0 |
6.9 |
3.3 |
6.9 |
8.6 |
9.4 |
11.9 |
Tried to quit smoking |
|
|
|
|
60.9 |
56.7 |
54.7 |
54.3 |
Tried marijuana before 13 years |
7.6 |
8.4 |
9.2 |
5.6 |
11.6 |
10.6 |
9.4 |
10 |
Used marijuana in last 30 days |
|
|
9.5 |
5.2 |
24.6 |
20.6 |
18.3 |
19 |
Used cocaine in last 30 days |
|
|
|
|
7.3 |
7.4 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
Used prescription drugs to get high |
|
|
7.1 |
3.6 |
|
|
14.8 |
16.5 |
Used heroin 1 or more times |
|
|
|
|
4.8 |
6.0 |
5.4 |
6.7 |
Used methamphetamines 1 or more times |
|
|
|
|
10.4 |
9.5 |
7.9 |
7.3 |
Felt sad or hopeless almost every day |
|
|
31.2 |
28.2 |
27.1 |
26.3 |
28.1 |
28.6 |
Considered suicide |
18.8 |
25.1 |
23.6 |
18 |
18.1 |
17.5 |
15.2 |
15.6 |
Planned suicide |
8.0 |
11.4 |
12.2 |
7.8 |
14.1 |
14.0 |
12.5 |
12.3 |
Attempted suicide |
6.8 |
9.5 |
12.9 |
5.9 |
11.9 |
12.5 |
13.2 |
11.1 |
Suicide attempt needed treatment |
|
|
|
|
5.0 |
4.7 |
5.1 |
3.1 |
Students ever bullied |
47.7 |
53.4 |
54 |
51.8 |
45.4 |
48.1 |
46 |
48 |
Students bullied daily |
12.1 |
13.0 |
13.1 |
14.7 |
8.2 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
14.5 |
Saw someone being bullied |
50.6 |
60.8 |
53.6 |
48.8 |
67.2 |
67.2 |
60.3 |
60.3 |
Have bullied someone |
34.9 |
42.0 |
43.3 |
34.5 |
39.9 |
39.5 |
35.1 |
38.6 |
N= 8406
AM 5-26-09