West Chester Community

Overview of Youth Survey Results - 2007

Presented by:West Chester Area Communities That Care

Youth Leadership Council252 E. Market St. # 158 West Chester, PA 19382

610-696-8262 www.wcctc.org

Coordinated through:The COAD Group with funding from the

Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services

Key Points All twelve Chester County School Districts, plus two Centers for Arts &

Technology participated

In Fall of 2007, students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 were surveyed including: - 3,142 in the West Chester Community - 16,305 in Chester County - 16,547 in Pennsylvania ((Note: Not all Chester County students were part of the state

sample)

Four strategies were used to assess the validity of the surveys; the following would be excluded:- Youth who exaggerate their use of drugs- Youth who exaggerate the frequency of other antisocial behaviors - Reported use of a fictitious drug - Repeated logically inconsistent pattern of substance use

(7.2% of surveys were removed from the data)

Use Survey Results to:

Develop a focus for planning

Establish baseline data and expected outcomes

Conduct public relations, outreach and education

Support fund development

Fall 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey

West Chester Community Results

vs.

Chester County

vs.

Pennsylvania

vs.

Monitoring the Future (National)

Alcohol – Past 30 Day Use – 2007(Beer, wine, hard liquor)

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

West Chester Community 2.3% 13.4% 39.8% 55.9%

Chester County 2.7% 11.2% 34.4% 53.5%

Pennsylvania 3.3% 13.9% 31.9% 44.8%

MTF - National No Data 15.9% 33.4% 44.4%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Binge Drinking – 2007(Five or More Drinks in a Row in the Past Two Weeks)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Pe

rce

nta

ge

West Chester Community 1.1% 4.9% 22.0% 33.4%

Chester County 1.3% 4.7% 18.7% 33.2%

Pennsylvania 1.4% 6.5% 16.8% 25.7%

MTF - National No Data 10.3% 21.9% 25.9%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Cigarettes – Past 30 Day Use - 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community 0.7% 3.9% 12.0% 22.3%

Chester County 0.5% 3.6% 12.6% 23.6%

Pennsylvania 1.3% 5.5% 13.7% 20.6%

MTF - National No Data 7.1% 14.0% 21.6%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Marijuana – Past 30 Day Use - 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community 0.5% 1.9% 17.6% 28.6%

Chester County 0.3% 2.3% 15.4% 27.1%

Pennsylvania 0.9% 6.5% 23.5% 35.7%

MTF - National No Data 5.7% 14.2% 18.8%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Inhalants – Past 30 Day Use – 2007 (Sniffed glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray can, or inhaled

other gases or sprays in order to get high)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community 2.3% 4.7% 3.0% 3.5%

Chester County 2.0% 3.0% 2.8% 3.3%

Pennsylvania 2.6% 3.7% 3.4% 1.7%

MTF - National No Data 3.9% 2.5% 1.2%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Non–Medical Use of Rx Narcotics Past 30 Day Use - 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester 0.3% 0.6% 2.3% 7.4% 2.5%

Chester County 0.2% 0.6% 3.3% 6.6% 2.5%

Pennsylvania 0.0% 0.4% 2.9% 4.5% 2.0%

National - Monitoring the Future - - - 3.8% -

6th past month

8th past month

10th past month

12th past month

overall past month

Non- Medical Use Rx AmphetaminePast 30 Day Use - 2007

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester 0.3% 1.4% 2.4% 4.9% 2.2%

Chester County 0.4% 0.8% 2.8% 4.6% 2.1%

Pennsylvania 0.5% 0.7% 2.5% 2.7% 1.6%

National - Monitoring the Future - 2.0% 4.0% 3.7% -

6th past month 8th past month 10th past month 12th past monthoverall past

month

Depression

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Pe

rce

nta

ge

I felt depressed/sad most days 24.1 28 27.5 29.4

Sometimes I think life is notworth it

11.9 18.4 19.6 23.2

I think I am no good at all 22.6 26.8 28.9 30.5

I am inclined to think I am afailure

7.8 13 13 14.5

6th 8th 10th 12th

“In the past year have you felt depressed or sad most days, even if you feel OK sometimes?”

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community 24.2% 28.0% 27.5% 29.4%

Chester County 23.5% 25.5% 28.6% 28.0%

Pennsylvania 31.2% 33.0% 33.0% 32.2%

6th 8th 10th 12th

“All in all, I am inclined to think that I am a failure.”

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community 7.8% 13.0% 13.0% 14.5%

Chester County 9.1% 11.2% 13.0% 13.6%

Pennsylvania 12.2% 12.9% 14.5% 13.1%

6th 8th 10th 12th

West Chester Community Results

Fall 2001 Pennsylvania Youth Survey

vs. Fall 2003

Pennsylvania Youth Survey

vs. Fall 2005

Pennsylvania Youth Survey

vs.

Fall 2007

Pennsylvania Youth Survey

West Chester Community 2001- 2007

Alcohol Past 30-Day Use

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

West Chester Community - 2001 3.1% 15.2% 38.8% 52.6%

West Chester Community - 2003 1.8% 18.2% 37.9% 58.7%

West Chester Community - 2005 2.6% 16.3% 46.9% 56.1%

West Chester Community - 2007 2.3% 13.4% 39.8% 55.9%

6th 8th 10th 12th

West Chester Community 2001- 2007Binge Drinking

(Five or More Drinks in a Row in the Past Two Weeks)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community - 2001 1.4% 5.5% 22.6% 37.3%

West Chester Community - 2003 0.3% 8.6% 20.7% 40.7%

West Chester Community - 2005 0.6% 6.7% 25.9% 34.4%

West Chester Community - 2007 1.1% 4.9% 22.0% 33.4%

6th 8th 10th 12th

West Chester Community 2001 -2007

Cigarettes Past 30-Day Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community - 2001 0.9% 5.9% 16.2% 28.9%

West Chester Community - 2003 0.6% 6.2% 12.2% 23.1%

West Chester Community - 2005 0.1% 4.3% 11.7% 19.7%

West Chester Community - 2007 0.7% 3.9% 12.0% 22.3%

6th 8th 10th 12th

West Chester Community 2001 - 2007

Marijuana Past 30-Day Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community - 2001 0.2% 6.2% 20.4% 31.7%

West Chester Community - 2003 0.0% 5.9% 16.9% 29.2%

West Chester Community - 2005 0.1% 3.8% 17.2% 29.6%

West Chester Community - 2007 0.5% 1.9% 17.6% 28.6%

6th 8th 10th 12th

West Chester Community 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007

Inhalants Past 30-Day Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

West Chester Community - 2001 0.7% 1.5% 1.9% 2.6%

West Chester Community - 2003 1.3% 5.0% 3.0% 1.9%

West Chester Community - 2005 1.7% 5.1% 3.9% 4.4%

West Chester Community - 2007 2.3% 4.7% 3.0% 3.5%

6th 8th 10th 12th

Alcohol Past 30 Day Frequency of Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0 Occasions 97.7% 86.6% 60.2% 44.1% 73.4%

1 or 2 Occasions 1.7% 10.2% 22.5% 22.5% 13.8%

3 - 5 Occasions 0.4% 1.8% 7.0% 13.5% 5.3%

6 - 9 Occasions 0.0% 0.7% 5.2% 9.2% 3.6%

10 - 19 Occasions 0.0% 0.5% 3.0% 5.7% 2.1%

20 - 39 Occasions 0.1% 0.0% 1.1% 2.5% 0.9%

40 or more Occasions 0.1% 0.1% 1.0% 2.5% 0.9%

6th 8th 10th 12th Overall

Cigarette Past 30 Day Frequency of Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Not at all 99.3% 96.1% 88.0% 77.7% 90.8%

Less than one cigarette per day 0.2% 2.8% 6.8% 11.9% 5.1%

one to five cigarettes per day 0.1% 0.2% 3.5% 4.9% 2.1%

About one-half pack per day 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 2.5% 0.8%

About one pack per day 0.0% 0.5% 0.1% 1.3% 0.5%

About one and one-half packs per day 0.1% 0.0% 0.4% 0.8% 0.3%

Two packs or more per day 0.2% 0.4% 0.4% 0.9% 0.5%

6th 8th 10th 12th Overall

Drug and Alcohol Prevention Principles: A Public Health Model Planned strategies designed to preclude or reduce the

use of drugs and alcohol, which have a negative impact on the individual, the family, the community and society at large.

Risk and protective factor-focused prevention is based on the simple premise: to prevent a problem from happening, you must first identify the factors that increase the risk of that problem developing and then find ways to reduce those risks.

Protective Factors Those conditions that protect individuals from the

negative consequences of exposure to risks by: - Reducing the impact of the risk- Changing the way a person responds to the risk

Risk Factors

Those conditions that increase the likelihood that an individual will engage in at-risk behaviors

Risk and Protective Factors

Exist in All Areas

This is important because if prevention efforts are only focused in a single area, a community may not significantly reduce problem behaviors

This also means that prevention is everyone’s business

West Chester Community Identified Risk Factors

Family Management

Parental Attitudes Favorable towards risky behaviors

Peer Attitudes Favorable towards risky behavior

West Chester Community Identified Protective Factors

Family Attachment

Community Rewards for Prosocial Behavior

Opportunities for Improvement

West Chester community continues to show higher than state average levels of alcohol and marijuana use among 12th grade students.

West Chester Community Efforts

LifeSkills Training Program has been implemented in WCASD. A four year grant was secured from PCCD.

Active partner with West Chester Area Communities that Care in State Incentive Grant targeting underage drinking and implementing Lions Quest Program.

“Parents are the single most important influence on children’s decision to

smoke, drink or use drugs, yet many parents do not fully understand the

extent of their influence”

(Johnson and Johnson, 2000)