Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

drugs-schools-survey-youth

Full Text:

Survey Shows Increase In Youth Drug Use

B Y A MY D'O RIO

If a drug survey is any indication, drug and tobacco use among Newtown's youth

has generally increased or stayed the same since a survey was conducted in

1993.

"This is not good news for those of us who thought the problem would abate,"

said School Superintendent John Reed when he presented the survey to the Board

of Education Tuesday.

More students in eighth and tenth grades reported drinking alcohol, taking

drugs and using tobacco in a month's time on a survey conducted this spring

than a survey done in 1993.

The eighth grade results showed the most dramatic increase in use.

In a month's time, 33.7 percent of the eighth-grade respondents reported this

spring using alcohol, 32.4 percent reporting using tobacco, 13.6 percent said

they used marijuana, 4.5 percent reported using cocaine and 8 percent reported

using a hallucinogen.

In 1993 the figures were: 19.4 percent reported using alcohol, 22.5 percent

reported using tobacco, 6.9 percent said reported using marijuana, 2.8 percent

reported using cocaine, and 3.2 percent, hallucinogens.

The approximately 286 eighth-graders participating in the survey reported less

usage of drugs than the tenth graders, but a higher percentage said they had

gotten drugs at school, mostly during after-school and evening activities.

In eighth grade, 51 students or 17.7 percent said they obtained drugs or

alcohol at school in a month's time. Of 205 tenth-grade responses, 9.2 percent

said they obtained drugs or alcohol at school.

Assistant Superintendent Robert Kuklis said it may be higher at the middle

school because the high school has security officers patrolling the grounds.

The survey given this spring to sixth, eighth and tenth graders was to gauge

how the district is doing in fighting the drug problem.

While some students may have lied on the survey, treating it as a joke, school

officials said they must take the results seriously. School Superintendent

John Reed noted that probably an equal number of students took the survey

lightly in 1993.

Dr Reed said he does not want to discuss specific questions, preferring to

emphasize the overall message that drug and alcohol use is increasing,

especially at the middle school.

In a month's time, 53 percent of the 10th grade respondents reported drinking

alcohol, 41.7 percent reported using tobacco products, 23.3 percent reported

using marijuana, 6.16 percent said they used cocaine and 8.6 percent reported

using a hallucinogen.

In 1993, those percentages were lower: 37.6 percent reported using tobacco,

48.3 reported drinking alcohol, 22.9 percent said they used marijuana, 3.3

percent reported using cocaine and 8.9 percent said they used a hallucinogen.

Between 209 and 211 tenth graders answered each survey question.

Newtown High School Principal William Manfredonia said he plans to share

results with staff and parents soon. Newtown Middle School Principal Les

Weintraub has already called a faculty meeting to share the findings, and the

staff has elected to start a committee to look into how the community can

combat the drug problem.

All board members and school officials made it clear that the community must

get involved in addressing this problem. Mr Rosenthal especially noted that

eighth-grade parents must take the survey "as a wake up call," and the police

must have a higher profile on this issue.

The approximately 286 sixth graders filling out the survey reported less usage

than the older students. In a month's time, 8 percent of the sixth-grade

respondents reported using alcohol, 3.4 reported using tobacco, 1.7 percent

reported using marijuana, 1.4 percent, cocaine, and 1.3 percent,

hallucinogens.

The survey asked when students drink.

Of 22 sixth graders who answered, 14 said they just drink on the weekends. Of

98 eighth graders who answered the question, 63 percent reported drinking only

on the weekends, and 32 percent said they drink on throughout the week.

Of the 108 tenth graders responding, 72.2 percent said they drink on weekends,

and 25 percent reported drinking throughout the week.

In a month's time, the survey shows 13.6 percent of the tenth-grade

respondents came to class under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 16 percent

drove a car shortly after taking drugs or drinking alcohol, and 33 percent

rode in a car with a driver who had been recently using drugs or alcohol.

About 12 percent of the tenth-grade respondents admitted that their use of

drugs or alcohol resulted in fighting, violence or injury to others, and 30

percent said they observed such behavior in others.

When asked if they use drugs, 26.6 percent of 206 tenth graders said they do,

and most said they either did drugs because they liked the feeling or they

wanted "to get wasted." Only 5 students said they used drugs because friends

did.

The survey also sought to find out which drugs students feel are acceptable to

use. Most respondents felt they should not use any drug - including alcohol -

or a tobacco product.

However, 42.7 percent said it would be alright to use tobacco, and 42.5

percent felt it would be acceptable to drink alcohol. Of all the drugs listed,

students felt cocaine/crack was the least acceptable.

About 83 percent said they have been taught about the effects of drugs, but

only 66.9 percent said they were taught skills and strategies for refusing

drugs.

In a month's time, 11.5 percent of the eighth-grade respondents said they had

come to class under the influence of drugs, and 21.6 percent said they had

ridden in a car whose driver had recently used drugs. The survey asked

students about drug prevention, and 75 percent of the respondents said they

were taught about the effects of drugs, and 54 percent said they were given

skills and strategies for resisting drugs.

The middle school is starting a new drug prevention program this year. It will

be starting a DARE program for the seventh grade.