GDAY Round Table

2008 Youth Risk Behavior SurveyStrategies for Prevention and Positive Youth

Development

Major Findings Focus Topics Safety

Cars Internet Violence Related Behaviors

ATOD Alcohol Tobacco Other Drug Use

Health and Wellness Dietary Behaviors Exercise Sleep

Safety

Car Safety 1.5% of Grade 6 student and 3% of Grade 8

never or rarely wear seatbelts 6.2% of High School students (with highest

incidence in grades 10 & 11 at 9%) never or rarely wear seatbelts

59.9% of 11th Grade students and 77.7% of 12th graders report having driven a car while talking or texting on a cell phone/pda.

Car Safety

2% of 6th grade respondents and 7.1% of 8th grade respondents report having ridden in a car or other vehicle driven by a minor (under age 21) who had been drinking alcohol or under the influence of other drugs.

17.5% of High School respondents report having ridden in a car or other vehicle driven by a minor (under age 21) who had been drinking alcohol or under the influence of other drugs. 25% of Grade 12 students represent the highest percentage.

Internet Safety 5.6% of 6th grade students and 11.7% of 8th graders

report having met someone in person with whom they initially had contact over the internet.

15.2% of HS respondents report having met someone in person with whom they initially had contact over the internet. 14%-9th grade 18.5% -10th grade 16.5% -11th grade 11.5% -12th grade

Violence Related BehaviorsWeapons: items such as guns, knives and clubs carried

with the potential to do harm or need protect oneself 6.5% of 6th graders and 14% of 8th graders, mostly

boys, reported carrying weapons in the month prior to the survey (March 2008) but not on school property

5.3% of all HS students surveyed indicated they had carried a weapon on at least on occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey with 3.7% doing so on school property.

Violence Bullying and Dating Violence (grades 8 and 9-12 only) 17.8% of 6th graders and 27.6% of 8th graders report having been bullied

in school during the 12 months prior to the survey. Nearly 4% of all High School students reported being bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey with 3.1% reporting physical force in the encounter.

Dating violence results in grade 8 indicates that 3.5% of those responding have been hurt physically or sexually by a date or someone they were going out with (girls more so than boys) and 6.2% of HS students reported dating violence, with girls in grade 11 experience the highest incidence at 9%.

Although not tracked on this survey, nationally, surveys indicate that 25% of teens in this age range experience cyber-bullying, with girls being targeted more than boys. INSERT CYBERBULLYING PSA HERE

Violence Self-Harm, Injury and Sucide Self Harm and Suicide 14.6% of 8th graders and 16% of HS students report having

hurt themselves on purpose (cutting, burning, bruising, choking) on at least one occasion in the 12 months prior to the survey. Females(23.8% report self injury more frequently than males (8.6%)

6% of 6th graders and 9% of eighth graders report having seriously considered attempting suicide along with 12.7% of HS respondents considering suicide during the 12months prior to taking the survey. Female respondents (14.9%) reported more frequently than males (10.5%)

1.5% of 6th graders and 4.0% of 8th graders report actually attempting suicide with 25% of 8th grade respondents reporting receiving medical attention.

4.3% of all HS respondents reported attempting suicide (Grade 10 showed highest percentage at 7.3%) and further, among those attempting suicide, 40.6% report that such an attempt resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be medically treated.

More girls attempt suicide, but more boys commit suicide.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs

ATOD Use and AbuseTobacco .5% of 6th graders, 13.5% of 8th graders and 26.4 %

of High school respondents report ever having tried cigarette smoking. 5% of 8th graders and 15% of High School students reporting recent, repeated use of tobacco.

Despite health and wellness programs, GDRSD sees a marked increase in tobacco use between 6th grade, 8th grade and again as students transition to HS. What is happening to the health message?

Alcohol 26.1% of 8th graders report

drinking alcohol other than for non-religious reasons

7% of 8th graders started drinking before the age of 12

According to www.stopalcoholabuse.gov Students who start drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to become alcoholic.

INSERT ALCOHOL PSA HERE

60% of HS respondents report having at least one drink of alcohol on at least one occasion (other than for religious reasons) and 12 % report starting drinking before age 13

34.1% of HS students reported drinking in the month prior to the survey Grade 9-19.6% Grade 10- 36.7% Grade 11-34.6% Grade 12-52.4%

Teen Alcohol Abuse 22% of HS students reported binge drinking

on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey 9th Grade = 7.1% 10th Grade = 22.6% 11th Grade = 24.3% 12th Grade = 40.4%

Alcohol Abuse6% of 8th graders report having been at a party held in

homes in the school district where alcohol use by teens is allowed by adults

27.5% of HS students report having been at a party held in homes in the school district where alcohol use by teens is allowed by adults.

Gr 9 = 12.9% Gr 10 = 26.3%

Gr. 11 = 29.2% Gr. 12 = 48.3%

Other Drug Use and Abuse 13.6% of 8th grade students

report trying marijuana 7% of 8th grade students report

having been offered, sold or given drugs on school property in the 12 months prior to the survey

Parent drug use and abuse is recognized as a significant factor in student drug use

30.7% of all HS students report having used marijuana.

The incidence of lifetime use of marijuana use increases each year by grade to nearly 50% of 12th grade students reporting use of this illegal drug.

17.2% of HS students report being offered, sold or given drugs at school

Parents, family members, medicine cabinets are noted as major sources of drugs used in abusive ways.

Health and Wellness

Dietary Behaviors Over 60% over middle school students surveyed

described themselves as being at about the right weight

58.3% of middle school students exercise in order to maintain or lose weight.

12.5% of 6th graders and 28% of 8th graders eat breakfast on fewer than 5 days a week

In almost a 2:1 ratio, middle school girls are more “concerned” with weight issues, body image or losing weight

Dietary Behaviors 59.6% of HS students report being at about the right

weight with 36.4% trying to lose weight In order to maintain or lose weight, 58% of HS

students choose to exercise 10% skip meals or have gone 24 hours w/o eating Nearly 40% of HS students report eating breakfast

fewer than 5 days during the week prior to the survey

Girls skip breakfast more frequently than boys

Work, Rest and Play Over three quarters of 6th

and 8th graders report vigorously exercising for at least 20 minutes at least 3 days/week

66.7% of HS students report vigorously exercising for at least 20 minutes at least 3 days/week

14.3 % of 6th graders and 34.5% of 8th graders report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep on school nights

63.7% of HS students report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep in school nights.

Time management is a key factor in providing balance in a student’s work, rest and play.

What Can We Do? Model Appropriate behavior: be kind and

considerate and your children will be too. Review Student Handbooks Know the law!

It is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. It is illegal to host a party at which drugs

and alcohol are served to minors. Talk to your kids and let them know

what your expectations are Teens who report having conversations,

contracts and other strategies with parents about youth risk behavior are more likely to stay drug and risk free.

Use on-line resources to develop family contracts and action plans for car, cell phone and computer safety

Visit the GDAY Resource room for free books, pamplets and parenting articles

Get to know your teen’s friends, their parents, coaches and other influential people in his or her life

Get to know your child’s patterns and look for changes in sleep, eating, emotions and social networks. Note changes in appearance and clothing

that might hide bruising or other injuries.

Remove computers from bedrooms Establish limits on computer and cell

phone use. Check call logs and computer history

with your child. Talk about their usage habits

Monitor on-line purchases Lock up personal weapons and touch

base with local law enforcement regarding safe storage of weapons.

Resources and Sites to “Check Out” www.gdrsd.org For the 2008 YRBS data and school homepages for:

GDRHS Student Handbook and policies GDRMS Handbook and policies

www.samhas.gov Resources for reducing/preventing youth risk behavior www.stopalcoholabuse.gov Parenting information on underage drinking and

associated risks www.aap.org American Academy of Pediatrician site that outlines statistics and

strategies for youth ATOD risk behavior www.cdc.gov Centers for Disease Control providing studies and advice regarding

youth risk behavior www.theantidrug.com Parenting advice regarding youth risk behavior www.g-day.org Family Computer Use and Social Networking Contract www.steerstraight.com Teen Driver Protection programs www.allstateteendriver.com Family/Teen driving contract www.nhtsa.dot.gov Seatbelt safety studies Prescott Parent Resource Center and GDAY Resource Annex

Children Learn What They Live by Dorothy Law Nolte If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If children live with shame, they learn to be guilty. If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence. If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient. If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate. If children live with acceptance, they learn to love. If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves. If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness. If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and others. If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to

live. Copyright 1972/1975