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Survey results show alcohol use among county teens down |
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By Patrick Tepoorten
The Community Partnership for a Drug Free Chisago County released its yearly survey results on July 17, and those results show a 10 percent decrease in alcohol use among ninth- and twelfth-grade students, countywide.
Director Tom Koplitz called the decrease “incredibly positive news” and said the drop was “as significant as it gets.”
The drug and alcohol use survey is given to sixth-, ninth-, and twelfth-grade students in all Chisago County school districts every year. The survey includes questions about tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and methamphetamine use.
Some of the highlights include:
• Of sixth graders, 2 percent reported using tobacco, 5 percent alcohol, 1 percent marijuana, and 1 percent methamphetamine, in the last 30 days.
• Of ninth graders, 12 percent reported using tobacco, 22 percent alcohol, 7 percent marijuana, and 1 percent methamphetamine in the last 30 days.
• Of twelfth graders, 31 percent reported using tobacco, 47 percent alcohol, 24 percent marijuana, and 2 percent methamphetamine in the last 30 days.
The greatest perception of risk among all groups continued to be tobacco, above 90 percent for all age groups. Alcohol continues to be the lowest perceived risk, with one or two drinks under 50 percent for all groups, and below 80 percent for binge drinking for all groups. Koplitz said the perception of risk figures for alcohol “need some work.” He also attributed the high risk marks for tobacco to public service campaigns.
Perception of risk (70 percent), perception of parental disapproval (86 percent), and perception of peer disapproval (53 percent) for seniors was considered low, and Koplitz characterized the peer disapproval figures as “way too low.”
Seniors’ tobacco use in the last 30 days is on par with the state average, but a bit higher than the national average. Local tobacco use in the last 30 days (31 percent) is slightly lower than the state average (34 percent), but much higher than the national average for smoking (22 percent).
Likewise, marijuana use in the last 30 days among seniors (24 percent) is higher than both the state and national average.
Meth use is extremely low, and Koplitz credited recent legislation making it harder to buy the ingredients as well as local law enforcement’s efforts to curb the drug’s manufacture and sale.
Other highlights include:
• Ninth grade alcohol use is 2 percent lower than the state average.
• Seven out of 10 twelfth-grade students, and less than half of sixth and ninth graders do not perceive having one or two drinks to be risky.
Because this survey is conducted every year, there may be discrepancies because only the three grades are surveyed and they are comprised of a different group each year.
To learn more about the Partnership for a Drug Free Chisago County, or to see the complete results of the 33-question survey, go to: www.cpyf.org.
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