www.fcd.org

Xavier High SchoolFCD Student Attitudes and

Behavior SurveyParent Presentation

September 2014

FCD Educational Services

Tim Ryan, FCD Prevention Specialist

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What is prevention?

A collaborative process involving schools, families, and communities that promotes the health and welfare of young people by planning and implementing strategies that:

Reduce risk factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviors

Identify and intervene on unhealthy behaviors

Nurture and strengthen protective factors that contribute to health and well-being

Risk Factors for Addiction

Family history

Age of first use

Cravings

Tolerance

Surroundings

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Current Concerns

Always alcohol

Marijuana

Nicotine E-cigarette Chew and dip

Prescription medicines

Heroin

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Marijuana

Legalization

Medicinal

Potency

Edibles

Perceived risk

Availability

What’s the same Addictive

Adults vs. kids

Learning and memory

Motivation

Maturity

Legal issues for kids

School discipline issue

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What’s changing

“Study Drugs”

Adderall & Ritalin ADD and ADHD Stimulants Side effects

Nervousness Restlessness Excitability Dependence

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Prescription Pills

Painkillers Vicoden Oxycontin Percocet Generics

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The Teenage Brain

Alcohol and other drugs interfere with forming connections in a teen’s brain.

These connections are intended to be formed without the presence of alcohol or other drugs.

A brain in transition from child to adult is more vulnerable to addiction.

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The Teenage Brain

Front brain functions that develop during adolescence:

Abstract thinking Higher-order logic and

reasoning (moral dilemmas)

Self control (emotions, impulses)

Future-oriented thinking Organization

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Social Norms

People tend to do what they perceive everyone else is doing.

What people think everyone else is doing becomes the norm. But…

…perceptions are not always accurate. Still…

…behaviors occur based on false norms.

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Basics

Administered October 23, 2013

Grades 9-12

1061 surveys

Paper survey

Patterns are important

The goal is prevention

Building the Xavier vision

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Reliability and Validity

Input Vetted by the experts Respectful and curious students 25 checks for inconsistent answers

Outcome 97% of students gave valid responses Data reliable for accurate trends

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Key Findings

The vast majority of Xavier students hold positive beliefs, engage in responsible decision making, and exhibit healthy behaviors.

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Healthy Trends

51% of students have never had a whole drink.

69% of students do not drink, or typically drink 1-2 times per year.

94% have never used alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs before coming to, or during, a school event.

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Social Norms

Gross exaggerations

False perceptions

Perception influences reality

Affects younger children

Research-based prevention strategy

Key Findings

Xavier students grossly overestimate alcohol and marijuana use, and underestimate abstinence from alcohol and marijuana use, on the part of their peers.

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False Perceptions - Attitudes

8% of all students think “it is cool to get drunk.”

Yet, 29% of all students assume schoolmates think “it is cool to get drunk.”

13% of 12th graders think “it is cool to get drunk.”

Yet, 44% of 12th graders assume schoolmates think “it is cool to get drunk.”

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False Perceptions - Behavior

83% of 9th grade students typically never drink alcohol.

Yet only 27% of 9th grade students believe their peers do not drink.

15% of 10th graders say they typically use marijuana 1-2 times a year or more.

Yet, 78% of 10th graders believe their classmates typically use marijuana at this rate or more.

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Alcohol

295 students drank within the past 30 days.

270 10th-12th grade students drank within the past 30 days.

Among 10th-12th graders, 125 students consumed 5 or more drinks in a row within the past 30 days.

9% of 9th graders drank in the past 30 days, versus 49% of 12th graders.

Grades 11 and 12 report most pressure to drink.

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Tobacco

88% of all students have not smoked a cigarette within the past 12 months.

Increases in cigarette use occur from 9th-12th

grades.

Smokeless tobacco use is more prevalent, especially in grade 11.

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Marijuana

81% of students typically never use marijuana.

Use by 12th graders is most prevalent.

Alcohol use predicts marijuana use.

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Other Drugs

The vast majority of all students do not use other drugs.

In the past 12 months:

3% over-the-counter drug misuse

3% prescription stimulant drug misuse

By comparison:

44% alcohol use 20% marijuana use

All Use Equals Risk

A “higher-risk drinker” is a student who consistently reports consuming 5 or more drinks on 1 or more days within the past 30 days. (110 students in grades 10-12)

A “lower-risk drinker” is someone who reports typically having at least one drink 1 to 2 times per year, and who has had a drink within the last year, but who did not report consuming 5 or more drinks of alcohol on any day within the past 30 days. (92 students in grades 10-12)

A “non-drinker” is someone who reports never having had a whole drink in his or her lifetime, or has not had a drink within the past year. (321 students in grades 10-12)

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Key Findings

“Higher-risk drinkers” are at higher risk for a wide variety of negative emotional, health, and social consequences, as well as use of other substances.

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Consequences of Higher-Risk Use

“Non-drinkers” are most likely to receive “mostly A’s.”

98% of all students say academics are important to them.

Grades Received in Relation to Alcohol and Marijuana Use

Yearly or More Frequent

Marijuana Users

Higher-Risk Drinkers

Non-Drinkers

Mostly A’s 20.5 22.7 39.1

Mostly B’s 60.2 63.6 53.3

Mostly C’s/D’s 19.3 13.6 13.3

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Consequences of Higher-Risk Use

On one or more occasions within the past 12 months:

75% got sick, vomited, and/or had a hangover

62% forgot what happened

56% did something they later felt sorry for

42% had a fight, argument with a friend,boyfriend, or girlfriend

34% got into a sexual situation theyregretted.

31% passed out

31% got in trouble at home or school

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Faculty and Staff

90% of students feel “valued as a person” at Xavier.

93% feel that “teachers and school staff care about me as a student.”

85% feel that “my school is making a sincere effort to address alcohol and other drug use problems.”

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Family

High levels of involvement and supervision

61% of students have talked with a parent about substances in the past year, but only 34% have done so more than once.

91% report clear family rules about substances.

School Protective Factors

Academic achievement

Extracurricular participation

Connectivity to trusted adults

Opportunities for natural highs

A community where non-use is respected, rewarded, and normal

Early intervention health systems

Infrastructural investment in the social norms approach

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Parents

Listening to your kids

Balancing school, family life, and friends

Knowing where your kids go

Knowing what’s in the medicine cabinet

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Parents Educate yourself and each other about what may be

available to teens

Know if your teen is adhering to limits

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Know where teens are spending their allowance

Work and communicate with other parents to help each other hold the line

Healthy Expectations

Explain why limits exist

Allow teens to have their say, but not always their way

Balance freedoms with growing maturity, not just older age

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Take Away Points for Parents

All student use equals risk

Delayed use can prevent later problems

The majority of students are making healthy choices most of the time

Adult role modeling and expectations are vital to a healthy prevention climate

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What Works?

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Effective prevention programs…

…engage the entire community

…change social norms perceptions

…provide accurate, age-appropriate drug information

…develop awareness of consequences of use

…reinforce clear and consistent expectations of health

…balance health and discipline systems

…delay first use of alcohol and other drugs

…address known risk factors and reasons kids use

…teach early intervention strategies

…promote alternative ways to get high

…support and encourage non-use

Resources

FCD Educational ServicesA part of www.fcd.org

“FCD: Prevention Works”

National Institute on Drug Abusehttp://www.nida.nih.gov

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Thank you!

FCD Educational Services

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