Read the executive summary of the survey results and the PowerPoint presentation shown to the Board of Education.
"Despite the positive trend, underage drinking is still a
big concern," said Robin Ambrosino, information specialist
for the Saratoga Partnership for Prevention. "A large
percentage of kids who are drinking are doing so in a pretty
alarming way."
The Partnership for Prevention found that among 12th
graders, the use of alcohol and marijuana is still above the
national average by 10 points and 17 points, respectively,
and binge-drinking (five or more drinks in a row) continues
to be prevalent in the high school.
In all grades, the perception of alcohol and marijuana use
is higher than students actually report using, but rates
rise steadily to top out in 11th and 12th grade. Ambrosino
pointed out in her presentation to the board that
environmental factors in the community, such as the hundred
Skidmore College students who openly smoked marijuana on the
campus Monday, contribute to high school and middle school
students’ perceptions of what normative behavior is.
The survey shows that in 2008, seniors perceived far greater
levels of drug and alcohol use by their peers than is
actually the case. Ambrosino said the perception gap is part
of teen culture, and changing students’ perceptions is an
important part of changing their behavior.
"As kids progress through adolescence, it's a normal part of
their development to assert their independence, experiment
and take risks," she said in an e-mail. "They also have a
powerful need for acceptance and inclusion by their peers."
As in 2006, about 25 percent of students in grades 11 and 12
reported being "drunk or high at school" within the last
year. Ambrosino said when more dominant kids use alcohol and
drugs, others seeking acceptance are more likely to do so
too.
"It's a little bit of the chicken and egg syndrome — what
came first? A culture of substance use that drives
perceptions? Or perceptions that drive the culture of use?
Either way, our job is to find out how to stop the cycle,"
she said.
Data for the 10th grade showed that alcohol and binge
drinking rates are below the national average, while
10th-graders’ marijuana use is two points above the national
average, compared to six or seven points in years past.
The survey showed that from eighth to ninth grade, students’
perception of substance use jumped significantly. For
example, in ninth grade, 25 percent of students reported
drinking in the last 30 days, but about 50 percent of them
thought more than half their class was drinking. But in the
eighth grade, perceived and actual rates of use were closer.
Middle school results showed that sixth and seventh-graders’
lifetime and 30-day use of nearly all substances has gone
down, while eighth-grade alcohol, binge drinking and
marijuana use has started to move up slightly, but the rate
is still below the national average.
"In the big picture, things are looking pretty good at the
middle school," Ambrosino said.
To address the survey’s findings, Ambrosino said the
Partnership for Prevention is strengthening its efforts to
educate parents through community-based initiatives, such as
the Community Awareness Committee that is already in place.
The Partnership plans to increase parent education,
awareness and supervision at the high school level. The goal
is to convey a consistent "no-use message" at school, in the
community, at home and within the peer culture, Lamport and
Ambrosino said.
In the works for the near future are focus groups with
middle and high school students to reveal more about the gap
between kids’ perceptions and actual use of drugs and
alcohol. The high school is considering an in-school
perception vs. fact campaign as part of the upcoming
ninth-grade transition program as well.
According to Partnership Coordinator Courtney Lamport, the
school district is focusing heavily on the transition from
middle school to ninth grade, with an extended introductory
period, a mentoring program and a peer court for ninth-grade
discipline issues.
The school board expressed satisfaction with the survey
results.
"The Prevention Council has been productive for the last
nine years, and it’s resulted in positive trends in the
areas of prevention," Superintendent Janice White said.
The 119-question survey, which is administered bi-annually
through The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council
of Saratoga County, was taken by 100 percent of sixth
through 12th graders in the district in October 2008, and
451 parents in the district completed the survey online
between December 2008 and January 2009.